Pasadena Man Gets 77 Years For Murdering Sister and Wounding Nephew

A Pasadena man was sentenced to 77 years to life in state prison after he was convicted in the shooting death of his sister in San Gabriel two years ago.

The sentence was handed down Thursday by the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Alhambra against Johnny Goins, 32, after he was found guilty of one count each of first-degree murder and willful, premeditated and deliberate attempted murder, and two counts of shooting at an inhabited dwelling.

Aside from the fatal shooting of his sister Tanaya, Goins was also found to have shot at his nephew, Tanaya’s son, and wounded him.

The jury in February also found true a special allegation that Goins personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, which caused his sister’s death and his nephew’s injuries.

At the sentencing, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Jared Moses also ordered the Goins to pay restitution in the amount of $14,200 to the California Victim Compensation Board and $1,300 to the victim’s mother for funeral expenses.

Deputy District Attorney Presciliano Duran of the Victim Impact Program, who prosecuted the case, said Goins was angry with his sister, a news release from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office said Thursday.

Evidence presented at trial showed Goins’ girlfriend had alerted Tanaya Goins that the defendant had tried to suffocate her. In a series of text messages, the girlfriend also told Tanaya about how the defendant have been telling her he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder because he experienced violence as a child.

The records showed Tanaya Goins told the girlfriend that her brother did not suffer child abuse and that he should not be assaulting women.

Early in the morning of March 5, 2015, 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 upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene, the prosecutor said. Her son was also struck by the gunfire, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Goins was arrested later that night at a Moreno Valley mall.