BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Claudia Banton, 46, appeared in a Brooklyn courtroom Monday to face the mother of Delia Johnson, the woman she was convicted of fatally shooting during a candlelight vigil in 2021.
Delia Berry, Johnson’s mother, addressed Banton directly during emotional courtroom remarks. “I did the best that I could for Claudia,” Berry said, according to News 12 Brooklyn. Berry had previously considered Banton to be like one of her own children.
Prosecutors said Banton disguised herself in a blonde wig and black clothing before ambushing Johnson, 42, at a vigil on Aug. 4, 2021, held in memory of a mutual friend in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. Surveillance video released by the NYPD showed Banton calmly approaching Johnson from behind and shooting her in the head at point-blank range.
The shooter continued to fire even after Johnson collapsed on the sidewalk, then fled the scene in a double-parked vehicle. Authorities launched a multi-state manhunt, and Banton was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Jacksonville, Florida, on Nov. 8, 2021.
Shooter tracked down across state lines
Following her arrest, Banton was extradited to New York to face murder charges. Prosecutors presented video evidence and witness testimony to identify her as the gunwoman who carried out the brazen daytime shooting in front of mourners and bystanders.
The motive behind the killing has not been disclosed publicly, and authorities have not confirmed whether the case was connected to a long-standing dispute or personal grievance.
Banton’s conviction marked the end of a high-profile case that drew widespread attention for its cold execution and the close personal ties between victim and killer.
