Superior Telegram
Following an hour-long hearing in Douglas County Circuit Court Monday, the May trial for the man accused of shooting Toriano “Snap” Cooper outside his Superior home in 2012 will proceed.
Tiawain Albert Johnson, 22, of Chicago faces a first-degree intentional homicide charge in Douglas County Circuit Court. The murder trial had been set for early January, but the appearance of two 11th-hour witnesses pulled it off the court calendar and led to Johnson’s release on a $1 million signature bond Jan. 3.
At Monday’s hearing, both District Attorney Dan Blank and Johnson’s attorney Aaron Nelson stated they were prepared to proceed to trial, which begins May 19 and is expected to take the full week. Blank declined to comment on the case so close to trial.
The fatal shooting took place outside 1901 N. 12th St. on Jan. 15, 2012. It was allegedly linked to drugs and an armed robbery that took place at Johnson’s home, according to the criminal complaint. Johnson blamed Cooper for setting up the robbery and shot him in retaliation, according to preliminary hearing testimony from two men facing separate drug charges. The additional witnesses who came forward in January claimed they heard Johnson confess to the shooting while they were inmates at the Douglas County Jail.
