Pasadena Arraignment Set for Man Who Allegedly Targeted, Killed Woman on Foothill 210 Freeway

Sidney Terrance Johnson, 26, who faces murder charges in connection with the death of a Pasadena woman in a car-to-car shooting on Sept. 4, 2021, will be arraigned on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at the Pasadena Courthouse.

The shooting occurred in eastbound lanes of the I-210 Foothill Freeway in Arcadia just east of the border with Pasadena at about 9 a.m.

Johnson was arrested by California Highway Patrol officers on Nov. 9, 2021.

During preliminary investigation, witnesses said they saw two cars – an Infiniti sedan and a black Mercedes – running almost side by side on the freeway. One witness said she saw a man on the driver’s seat of the Infiniti pointing a gun at the Mercedes and then firing.

Police said at least 10 shots were fired at the Mercedes. Two of the bullets, police, said, struck the driver, who was later identified as Bertha Hernandez, 35.

The Mercedes then reportedly crashed into the bushes off the side of the freeway. When police arrived on site, they found the driver suffering from gunshot wounds. She later died on the scene. The Infiniti was no longer in sight.

The investigation involved interviewing witnesses to the shooting and looking at security camera footage and dashcam video presented by one of the witnesses. One of the footage presented in court showed the Infiniti at a gas station on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena at about 15 minutes before the freeway shooting. It showed a man wearing red sneakers and dark sweatpants with red stripes.

Other images and video presented in court showed Hernandez’s Mercedes pulling out from her driveway in the 3200 block of E. Del Mar Ave. to head to the 210 Freeway. The Infiniti was also seen near the victim’s address.

Tracing car registration records, police identified the Infiniti’s owner as Johnson. A search at his home later led to recovery of evidence related to the crime in Johnson’s possession.

During the preliminary hearing, an investigator said Hernandez’s mother had told authorities about the victim describing Johnson as her boyfriend. It was not known how long they had been dating.

Investigators said it was clear the suspect’s vehicle had been tailing the victim’s Mercedes from her home up to the freeway where the shooting occurred.

Johnson’s arraignment is scheduled at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Dept. G of the Pasadena Courthouse.

He remains in custody at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles, according to Sheriff’s Department records, with bail set at $2.05 million.