She Killed Her Childhood Friend at a Candlelight Vigil — Then Returned to the Scene as If Nothing Had Happened

A Brooklyn woman has learned her fate for killing her friend during a candle-light vigil held for a mutual friend of theirs. 

Following a jury trial, Claudia Banton, 46, was sentenced to 23 years to life for second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession. She fatally shot Delia Johnson in the head hours after a funeral for a friend, according to a news release from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. 

On Aug. 4, 2021, around 9:40 p.m., Johnson was approached by Banton as she was chatting with a group of people in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Banton then shot Johnson, who fell to the ground, according to the statement.

Prosecutors say Banton then fired at least five more shots at Johnson and fled in a vehicle that was parked nearby. Banton was then found four months later in Florida after a police manhunt.

“This shooting was a cold-blooded execution of a woman who was attending a ceremony to honor a late friend,” Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn District Attorney said. 

“It is especially shocking that the defendant was so brazen as to carry out this murder among a crowd of mourners, causing chaos and fear as they ran from the gunfire. My thoughts are with Delia Johnson’s friends and family who are heartbroken by this senseless loss of life,” Gonzalez said in a statement.

The sentencing comes four years after the shooting, “I feel like she deserved more,” Johnson’s sister, Cordelia McCray said to News 12. “But today is about change, and today is about forgiving.”

Johnson’s mother, Delia Berry, addressed Banton in court during her victim impact statement, per the outlet.

“I did the best I could for Claudia,” Berry said.

Family members of Johnson spoke in court about the pain they felt losing a sister, mother and friend, according to News 12.

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“Her kids can still call her, still visit her,” Johnson’s brother said, per the outlet. “I’ll never see my sister again. I’ll never laugh with her again.”