Pasadena Man Convicted of Killing Sister in San Gabriel

A 32-year-old Pasadena man was convicted Thursday afternoon of fatally shooting his sister in 2015, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

The jury deliberated for a day before finding Johnny Goins of Pasadena guilty of four counts in case GA095841: one count of first-degree murder, one count of willful, premeditated and deliberate attempted murder two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling.

Jurors also found true a special allegation that the defendant personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, which caused death during the commission of the murder.

Goins is scheduled to be sentenced April 6 in Department T of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Alhambra Branch. The defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 77 years to life in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Presciliano Duran of the Victim Impact Program, who prosecuted the case, said at the time of the crime Johnny Goins was angry with his sister, Tanaya Goins, 32.

According to evidence presented at trial, Johnny Goins’ girlfriend alerted Tanaya Goins that the defendant had tried to suffocate her. In a series of text messages, the girlfriend also stated that the defendant told her he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder because he experienced violence as a child.

Tanaya Goins told the girlfriend that her brother did not suffer child abuse and that he should not be assaulting women, the prosecutor said.

In the early morning of March 5, 2015, Johnny Goins armed himself with a revolver and went to his sister’s San Gabriel apartment, the prosecutor said. While outside of the apartment, the defendant shot multiple times through a window and the door, the prosecutor added.

Tanaya Goins was struck in the head and torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the prosecutor. The victim’s teenage son also was struck by the gunfire, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

A witness testified during trial that she saw Johnny Goins flee from the apartment after the shooting. Later the same day, the defendant was arrested in Moreno Valley, according to the prosecutor.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.