The Votes Are In!
2024 Readers' Choice is back, bigger and better than ever!
View Winners → Top Posts May 25, 2021
by
share with
Two men have been arrested in connection with the near fatal shooting of a 10-year-old boy in Pasadena on Valentine’s Day.
Joseph Mekhi Knowles, 21, of Altadena, and Tanaj Johnson, 22, of Pasadena, are behind bars Tuesday on attempted murder charges in connection with the shooting, according to the Pasadena Police Department.
On February 14 at 3 p.m., officers responded to the 300 block of Parke Street in Pasadena after receiving several reports of shots fired. On the scene, a 10-year-old boy was found suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital alert and conscious, but suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Pasadena PD’s initial investigation revealed that ‘suspect(s)’ arrived to the location, exited a late model, light-colored four-door sedan, fired multiple rounds, striking the victim, then fled the scene. ‘Nothing” reportedly indicated that the boy was the target of the shooting’, according to a Pasadena Police Department news release.
For two months, no arrests were made as Pasadena PD Homicide detectives worked to identify potential suspects.
“On Thursday, May 20, 2021, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshal’s Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, Detectives executed search warrants at various locations in the Southern California area,” read a release from Pasadena PD. ” Additional items of evidentiary value connecting the suspects to the shooting were located and collected. Detectives ultimately arrested the listed suspects and on Monday, May 24, 2021, the case was presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for review.”
Joseph Mekhi Knowles was arrested by Pasadena Police on May 20 and is being held on no bail at the Inmate Reception Center, according to Los Angeles County jail records.
Tanaj Johnson was arrested by Pasadena PD officers on April 15. He is being held on $4,090,001 bail at an unspecified location, according to county jail records.
Anyone with information relating to this case is encouraged to call Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241. To issue an anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or go to www.lacrimestoppers.org.
The boy, identified by a GoFundMe page organized for his benefit as a Mario Ramirez, is now in stable condition. According to the page, Mario will need “extensive physical therapy” to recover from the injuries sustained in the shooting.
Gabriela Joya, Mario’s mother, told the Pasadena Star in February that one of the bullets barely missed her son’s heart.
“Mario is a loving 10-year-old who is in 5th grade at a local Catholic school. Mario enjoys playing basketball and is a huge fan of the Los Angeles Lakers,” read the GoFundMe page. “When Mario isn’t busy shooting hoops, he enjoys playing video games online with his friends and spending time with loved ones.”
The fundraising campaign, which is now closed, had raised $47,325 at the time of this publication.
