If I shot him, all I had to do was jail self-defense because I had my gun license. I didn't shoot him. >> Miss Tom, >> I watch ID. I know how this goes. And I feel like I'm going to get charged with this mess. I ain't trying to go to jail for stupidity. >> These officers have just arrived at the Georgia home of 25-year-old Reita Thomas and her 40-year-old boyfriend Johnny Whitlock. Inside, Johnny has just been mysteriously shot dead. But as they are faced with a seemingly heartbroken girlfriend, >> she's currently being interviewed >> and she shot her. interview she have to say. Listen, >> you're saying you've seen heard you? >> I've seen her like she's thrown stuff. >> Police will realize that Reanita is no witness at all. Behind closed doors, Johnny had been suffering at Reita's hands for years. And at this very moment, she believes she has planned the perfect homicide to get rid of him once and for all. >> I shoot the man that's taking care of me and my kids. Oh, I am alive. >> It was just after 7:30 on October 6th, 2020, when police in Griffin, Georgia, received a heartbreaking call. Brenita Thomas, a new mother, sobbed as she told police that her baby's father, Johnny Whitlock, had shot himself after the two got into an argument. She begged for help, and EMTs raced to the scene to try and save Johnny's life. What they found when they arrived, however, wasn't as open and shut as they expected. Because from the get-go, the scene they walked into didn't seem to be Johnny's doing. And [music] his baby's mother, her behavior wasn't exactly what you'd expect from someone who's just seen one of the most horrific things imaginable. >> You got to lay perfectly still. You hear me? >> Come on. Stay with me. >> Outside, Reita, Johnny's partner, sat on a bench, chain smoking cigarettes and rocking back and forth. She didn't ask how Johnny was. She didn't try to race in the home to help him. All of those are red flags. But what she did do is the biggest red flag of all. >> Ma'am, I'm Officer Harper. I just want to get some information from you. Okay. >> What's your name? >> Rita Thomas. You have to check my hands for heard the dude. I feel like everybody's treating me like I did. Nobody tell me. >> I'm so worried because he only has one law. He just had some kids. >> Listen, the only reason I'm taking your information is because you were in the house when this happened. Okay. We want to make sure that we have everybody's information before this goes forward. Okay. >> All right. You say your last name is Thomas. >> Yes. >> So, your first name? >> Brenita Ra. I'm with a registered. >> Okay. >> And both of them are in my name. >> Okay. What's your date of birth? >> 1129 1994. Yes, ma'am. Mama, they won't let me in the house. >> Me and him got into it because he wanted to get into my phone and I wouldn't let him get into my phone. So, he started fighting me. We started going at it and everything. He took my glasses. I don't know where my glasses at. And he pulled out the gun and [ __ ] He said if all this >> Tom man I watch I watch ID I know how this goes and and I feel like I'm going to get charged with mess and all this and the third. >> No man I'm trying to I'm trying to find out what happened. >> Okay. I know you said y'all were fighting. >> Okay. What happened? We went to go get something to eat. I just he he my my car got beat up. Somebody vandalized my car. >> Okay. >> And that's because they keep calling his name like he's not he only got one >> but we I had to go get a random >> and we was we was on the way back while I was driving. So I pulled over I got out. I was like, I need to get my phone back. Long story short, we got back here. We got the fight here. >> So, and and that's why my face is all messed up and everything. We got the fight here. >> So, was it it was physical? >> Yes. And and it that that just happened. He he's every time every time me and him try to break up, he always tries like he's done tried with my gun before. My nine that y'all just took. He's done tried to do that before. He's done tried to jump off Six Street Bridge before. But we just had a newborn. Like I'm literally 3 weeks into my my postpartum. >> Ranita has two children with Johnny. one child who is just a few weeks shy of his second birthday and a newborn who is just three weeks old. However, she doesn't have custody of them. It's something that she blames on Johnny in spite of the fact that she is the one who isn't employed, doesn't have a car, and has a knack for flying off the handle >> right now. Listen, right now main concern is him, okay? >> And and that's my main concern, but ain't nobody telling me anything. So, I'm feeling like that everybody trying to pin this on me. >> See, here's the thing, okay? This is going to happen. All right? You're going to go to the office. had a new boy. I ain't trying to go to jail fority, bro. >> Why would you go to jail if you're in? >> That's why I'm saying go ahead and test my hand out. >> We have to do all that at the office. I can't We don't have none of that stuff out here in the field. That's why I said go to the office. We going talk about what happened. That's why I get a basis of what happened and we'll be done. If you're innocent, you're innocent. I mean, that's what I'm trying to tell you. Trust me. That man that she's so coldly talking about has a name, Johnny. And in spite of how horrible his partner was, he was an incredible man. But don't take our word for it. Here are his co-workers being interviewed by law enforcement in the aftermath. Because, as you'll soon see, Reneita describes him as a violent, stupid, and cruel man with a vindictive streak. And she's the only person in the universe to ever do that. And if you enjoy killers like this, realize they're not winning an Oscar. Subscribe and check out our Spotify where we upload podcasts every week. >> I wanted to talk to y'all about one of y'all's employees, Mr. Johnny. >> Okay. What can you tell me about him? How was his demeanor at work? >> Would not hurt a fly. >> He went to church every Sunday. He did not do >> No, >> he did nothing. No, >> he's a good man. >> He is the most gracious man. Modest. >> Yeah. You care? No. >> No. >> These are question we have to ask our state. She made >> He makes church every Sunday. >> Yeah. >> His mom's still preaching, right? >> During the day. [snorts] >> Yeah. >> No, that was the remember that one time I tried to kill that you know the spider with all the little babies on his back. So when me and Johnny first started working together, I stomped on it and little baby spiders went everywhere. And do you know what Johnny did? He shoot them up in the dust pan, like raked them up with a piece of paper and threw them outside. He was like, "No, girl. You can't be killing spiders. You can't be killing them babies." And put them outside. >> Yeah. >> So I'm like, "Yeah, no." But no, Johnny would not hurt a lot. >> Meanwhile, the claims friends and family make about Reita aren't quite as flattering. >> Okay. So what can you tell me about Reita? >> She was very pricey. She wanted to have her way in. She get mad about a lot of stuff. I understand her pull on him a couple times and he been trying to get away from her and stuff like that. But he ain't never put a hand on her or force his way on her anything. He always tried to get away. >> What type of person is she? >> Very ready to graduate. What about like her character? Like how was she as a person? Was she quiet, loud, bubbly? >> Like a a sneaky, you know? You know, she always got she, you know, like somebody who always act like they ain't you know they up. Back at the scene, police suspect that Reanita is up to something because the logistics of how the shooting happened aren't adding up. >> Where where was he sitting whenever the gun went off? >> He was standing up. He was leaning over me on the uh on the chair in the in the in the chair in the middle. He was leaning over me. >> He was leaning over. You were sitting in the chair? >> Yes, I was sitting in the chair. The gun fell. He rolled over to where y'all found him. >> Okay. >> I didn't see any hand anywhere else. I mean, I can go to double check >> that that was her weapon. She said that >> the AR is hers, too. >> Yeah. She don't live here. >> I didn't see any ammo in it. >> What kind of two3 was it? >> How the hell do you turn that do that? >> To self inflict that would not be very easily >> sitting on the couch like this. But if the gun's on the ground, he's got it right here. pulls a trigger, it goes through and hits free. >> Yeah, but there's not even uh like like whatchamacallit uh drywall disturbance. >> See that look fresh kind of chip around. Do you got a ladder? >> Okay, here's the thing, Massie. The um shell casing should be in here. >> I got >> What was that? It >> was all moved. Everything was moved. >> What was that? >> It was right right there up under this chair was not It was sitting like this. EMS moved everything. Kicked everything. The showcase was right here. >> What was it? Two to three. >> Looks like it, but you can't tell difference between two to three. 556. >> Yeah, but it wasn't a nine. >> No, no, no. It was 22. >> So blood right here on the couch. So said he was laying here at this feet down. >> So he had been on here, >> but he said dude was still moving when he got here. >> So she claimed she was sitting on the couch. He was standing over her. But the angle of the round in him, they had she had to be taller than him. She's not taller than him. [clears throat] He's tall. He's 6'1. So, I'm thinking >> I got the shirt. >> I'm thinking he was sitting. She was standing. >> She said that she was >> in the chair and he was standing over and they were struggling over the gun. >> That's what she said. And the chair obviously facing this way. Yeah. Because EMS moved it facing this way. >> She was sitting there. The only thing I could think of is that he the barrel was pointing his hand [snorts] in and she had a hold. >> So the chair face this way. >> That's that's what she said. >> So Matthew, that might be it. But only thing about it, the chest mark is higher than the X, >> right? >> Yeah. But if he's if he's leaning down, he's here. >> Yeah. So that might be it. >> That's what I'm saying. That's the only thing >> you got. Hold on. Hold on. >> You got crosses. If you hold if you hold demons down, it's going to >> Yeah, it'll be lower. Yeah, >> that might be a mess. >> There's a problem with Reita's claims, and it doesn't even take crime analysts to uncover it. The location of the casings, blood spatter, and bullet holes at the scene don't match her story, which is just one reason why police are eager to swab her hands for gunshot residue. >> Like I said, it's just a sticky pad. >> What I'm going to do a little bit It's going to take a couple days. Got to get up to the GBI lab, but I should back. The last time I sent them off, it's been pretty quick. >> I'm trying to get our folks. >> And that's what Hey, but that's what I'm telling you right now. This right here is going this right here. Once this realist gets in, it'll say whether there was gunshot residue in your hands. And if there's no gunshot residue on your hands, they can't argue that fact. They can't they can't go back and say, "Oh, she pulled the trigger." No, cuz there was no gunshot residue on your house. Okay. >> So, that's what I'm saying. If if I can if I can prove everything that it was exactly the way you said it, that's my job. >> I mean, my thing is if I did it, I tell you I didn't. All I got to do is self-defense. I have my gun. >> Yeah. No, I understand. >> I mean, that's what I'm saying. Like, I didn't I didn't do it. And I'm not I don't I don't want you to think I'm sitt here and see the way you did. Okay. I just I got to I got to cross all like I said cross all my tees, got all my eyes. >> So >> Reneita's statement that she could claim self-defense if she had pulled the trigger isn't as helpful and intelligent as she seems to think it is. But evidently she thinks it's a get out of jail free card because over the course of all the footage we've received, she makes that point 16 times. We aren't exaggerating. We counted and each one was more painful than the last. With her claims that she was merely defending herself, police speak with neighbors who offer a very different perspective about her relationship with Johnny. While she wants to play the victim, everyone within 100 miles knows that's far from the truth. >> I've been living here for like I don't know 10 years or so. Almost 10 years. They just moved in like maybe a year ago or I didn't know that she didn't live here. Well, like that car right there has dents all in the side of it. Friday morning at like 5 a.m. She woke me up just like she had a hammer or something beating the hell out. She woke me up have a dead sleep and then I've seen her out in the yard. All kind of >> All right, I'm going to have them contact you. But you're saying you've seen her do >> I've seen her like she's thrown stuff. She's locked him out of the house. He'll be beating on the door. I even contact cuz we have the same landlord. I've already contacted my landlord. >> I put that in there. I'm going to have them contact you since. >> But that car right there, it has dents all down the side of it. She just did that Friday morning. She woke me up doing it. >> Okay. That was the >> And she hadn't been here since that I know of. And she pulled up today. I saw her pull up or I heard and she was screaming and then I heard the door slam and then I don't know. I heard I heard the loud pow. >> What time do you remember about what time you heard the pow? >> It had been between 6:00 and 6:30 I would say at least >> 600 and 6:30. >> That car that's right there. >> Mhm. >> The black one. Yeah, >> there's dents all the stuff. She woke me up Friday morning at like 5:30 in the morning or something. >> I heard boom boom boom and I was like, "What the hell?" I got up and looked and she had a hammer or some blunt object and was just like beating the hell out of that car and like I I mean I've seen her throw their TV out in the yard like she's did all kinds of crazy stuff. >> Yes, sir. >> Like I've got out of my car, hey, what's up? And she don't even know I exist. Yeah. >> He's came over said, "Hey, man. How's it going?" Like he seemed friendly. Yes, sir. >> From the neighbor's perspective, it's not Johnny who was the violent one. It's Reanita. And when police go to look at the car to see if there's damage like the neighbor is claiming, they find even more than they bargained for. >> Marks are right there. >> See the marks [snorts] that angled. You can really see the dents in it angle. You can really see the dents in it. >> But it's not until Johnny's distraught family arrives that law enforcement gets their first look into the side of Reanita that her neighbor is describing. >> Now they they still interviewing her trying to find exactly what took place. That's why I'm back over here now. We trying to um double check everything. Do all eyes across all the TE's. Yeah, >> but since he he died though, man, I mean that should be up up homicide or something. >> Yes, heard. That's why we out here. Earlier I was here, it was mentioned about her pulling out guns on him and stuff >> they saw >> tonight. No, they said they >> but they say they say she whipped up this morning say she whipped up ass night >> they can't talk. >> Yeah, he talking about he said she had a hammer or something. >> But my thing is this what you can with the gun. >> So he do we keep the guns here or does she keep the guns? When Johnny's siblings and mother arrive on the scene, Reanita finally lets the true ugly nature inside of her run wild. And while it's painful to watch, it will make you feel a lot better about your relationship with your in-laws. >> See, now that that's that's going to be a problem. Them folks right there. >> She's currently being interviewed. Okay. [snorts] >> She shot him. What she say? >> Listen. >> She to say she shot him. >> Listen, honey. I get I understand this is difficult, but right now we have >> Listen, >> don't tell me you understand [ __ ] >> She been here. She been here. She been here. >> We're We're fixing to get ready to transport it down to the police department, okay? To finish. We We have to do our part, okay? I I'm sorry, honey. I really am. I hate this happened to y'all family, but we also have to do our part, hun. shoot for the man taking care of me and my damn teeth. >> Miss Thomas, >> it pisses me off because like >> Miss Thomas already want to see us together and something like this go on and then they send over if I and I'm going say this loud enough for them to hear me. If I shot him, >> all I had to do was yell self-defense cuz I had my gun license and didn't shoot him. I did not shoot him. >> Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. >> Stop. Thomas. >> Listen. Stop. >> I ain't shoot him. >> I ain't shoot him. >> Stop. >> I ain't got no reason to shoot him. >> That's what I'm saying. I didn't shoot him. >> Okay. Stop. >> The hell I'm not going to shoot my the man who take care of me for >> Stop. Quit entertaining >> that [ __ ] They don't piss me off. They want to sit over there and yell all that extra [ __ ] I'mma sit over here and go yell, too. I didn't shoot them. >> Point blank. Period. >> NO, THEY KEEP ON THEY OVERLENSE. Miss Thomas, >> I ain't had no reason TO SHOOT THE MAN. >> THOMAS. Miss Thomas, stop. >> Okay, stop. Come on. Walk this way. >> Finally, police remove Reita from the scene. It's the least they can do to stop another homicide from occurring because sadly, soon after Johnny was loaded into the ambulance for transport, he was announced dead. He was just 40 years old, a hard worker, a dedicated partner, and a loving son. And police still have no idea why his life was snatched away. But at the police station, they get a chance to learn through their interrogation of Reita. I said my ass my kids. I got one year old and a newborn and he straight like this man taking care of us. We got to talk about reach out. >> If you're not going to listen to me, I'm not going to trick you anywhere. Okay. I just told you you're not right. >> I'm sorry. I've never been in jail. Like I said, I read this to everybody before I talk to you. Okay. that me and you. >> The detective reads her her rights which shuts her up for a few glorious moments until she launches into her retelling of what led up to the shooting. She claims that after getting Chick-fil-A, Johnny tried to steal her phone and from there things spiraled out of control. >> So he took my phone and dropped the car. >> Where did you at [clears throat] the um at the beach? So like my home this and that and then um being right. >> Okay. So, let me truly jump over right here. >> Truth. Okay. Truth. Then you went to Wendy's, right? He went to VP on the expressway. >> I had to pull over. He was trying to jump out the car. >> So which side were you going? You going northbound side? >> I was on this side. >> You was on Tell me where you going. >> I was going to spare. >> You going toward? Okay. So you said at 6, right? >> I mean I didn't I mean this Then he jumped out the car with my phone. >> So you going towards the back, >> right? I'm understand. >> So I go to my and um my phone or whatever my phone all the way street got my phone. >> Okay. He got my phone blank and you think that I'm just supposed to be like 25 years old. I'm not just sitting like I'm not doing that. So, and you got to take that. So we we got the plane and >> we got the bedroom. >> Okay. >> So So did he did he get back in the car with you? >> Yes. >> And you took him home. >> Yeah. He said he told me he's bad. I said get in the car. I know his speed is bad. I don't care about >> and his feet is bad. So I was like get in the car. Get in the car. Um and he told me he get my phone to the house. Okay. >> So after we got fight >> but on this plain and he had >> Brenita wants to paint a picture of a volatile depressed man willing to harm himself just to manipulate let her into staying. But Johnny's family and friends don't buy it. >> Johnny ever threatened >> No. >> No. >> No. Johnny loved them babies. I mean, he's got a new baby. No, he's never. No. >> Cuz she was painting this picture last night like he was. >> No. >> Johnny thought he was a celebrity [snorts] because he was a car. He was very >> Yeah. Depression isn't a visible disease and it can hide in even the most happy, positive people. But no one believed for a second that Johnny would take his own life. His mom in particular had another theory >> cuz when I called back, he didn't answer it first and I died back abuse. He was she said, "Hey, mom." [clears throat] I said, "Where is Johnny?" I didn't say that. I said, "Where is Johnny?" And she said, "OJ, [snorts] you know how I tell you?" Yeah. I said, "Girl, you always used to mess with her on like people that love me. He wouldn't do it just with me because you know I love you know Johnny didn't have a plan. >> And yet another relative has an idea of why Reneita may have killed him like his mother suspects because Johnny was done being treated like garbage. thing I don't get is why would he I mean he moved her out he moved her out he pay her first rent he paid her pass first house you do all that >> it don't make no sense >> so why did he do all that was he ready to leave her or >> yeah she pretty much she got mad because he didn't just want to go sit away and she didn't want He bought everything. Another thing that Sunday, he had he lobb and stuff to get there, but he be on you, man. All that leg. >> In the interrogation room, however, Reita tries her hardest to convince the officers that Johnny was the cold, violent person in their relationship. But I mean other than going my phone >> so I'm thinking okay when we get back to the house she going to get my phone when we got to the house. >> Okay what >> he say straight off phone >> that's it. And then we plan every time and and the reason why why I was call man like and and like I forgot what I'm saying. Um but uh um we got told my phone back and like you said I told you ain't changing every time I try to and tell you how I feel instead of building up and breaking up. I try to talk to you and you just do what you want to do instead of actually listening and trying to talk to me. So that's why I mean I'm here to help you. Okay. When I ask you question ask question don't don't go into part of trying to defend what I'm thinking because I'm not saying anything. I'm trying to build a story, okay? And you keep switching off into that. You see what I'm saying? I'm here to help you. I'm trying to help you, okay? Listen, >> your mind right here. Okay? This is not interrogation. This is an interview. There's between the two. >> Okay? Stay right here with Look at me. Look at me. Stay right here. Okay? Y'all got into a fight. Y'all, in the middle of that fight, you tell him, you know what you expect from, what you want from this done, if you can't give me this, right? Okay, move on. >> If you're going to claim that your partner, who won't even kill spiders, [music] is a violent monster, you may want to look in the mirror first. Because in this case, everyone who encountered Reita knew that she was the violent crazy person in the relationship, even if they hardly knew her. because normal happy people don't try to run over their partners like his sister is claiming here. >> Tell me a little more about that incident she was talking about the other day with them being at the gas station. >> Oh yeah, when she was up there she was at they said she was up there and she uh they got the store they got the store and she was in the store telling me she was going to kill. So my uncle was with a bag like she going to kill me. So he probably got the car got in the car and went home. And then they said when she walked when he walked outside running over the car >> and this happened at the Chevron on Taylor. >> What can you tell me about him and Reita's relationship? >> I mean he do anything to keep my soup house. He be the house to get over. [laughter] She comes on my house saying come home. You don't argue with him. Just go home. >> Really? Have you ever seen them involved in any physical altercations? >> You haven't. >> You don't even let him get there. Just go home. Try to argue with just >> Okay. >> I don't see how she got her weapon license and she crazy. But >> how you know she crazy, >> man? And the way she come over there at Jenny like man you see her playing she just come out of nowhere pull up she'll come in the hide my sister like take it outside come stick go home y'all you don't try to you know how attitude is >> the entire neighborhood and all of Johnny's relatives knew that Rene was a ticking time bomb and a hazard. But she really thinks that she can outsmart detectives even as the walls begin to close in on her and her crocodile tears. Then um I called him. I was like, "Damn." Um cuz he had my gun and I got it. >> Which one? >> My where was it? >> He had he had it in his pocket when y'all came and got it. I didn't know where it was until I got in the pocket when I >> heard the world. I need to protect myself. I need to protect myself. >> But so he was going to do without my phone. So he put my gun. I feel like he was going to do something crazy. That's why I was in his cuz I was trying to keep him from shooting with that. >> So how did he get your gun? >> He took it out first when we were fighting and that that black Gucci purse you seen that the flat hang. >> Yeah. I see. >> Yeah. He took it out. >> So I managed to get a clip out of it. It was never bullet point. >> What color? >> Gray and black. >> Yeah, it was a small um and have in my name too. >> Okay. What was that? >> Um it was at his house cuz I was saying that where >> I don't know where he get it from. >> It's my asking where he get it from inside the house. >> I have no idea. >> I have no idea. Cuz I was looking for my glasses and everything. I don't know where he got from you. >> Yes. arrest twice and the first time we found him and then he jumped on me again and he shot looking for him and then um next thing I know cuz I told him I said Johnny call so that's when the gun got his mind crazy so he was like all right call police and he calmed down all do I'm not going to get yourself just so next time I know um with the gun I managed to get the magazine I could not so I'm thinking okay he ain't going to do nothing crazy I didn't know he had one in the chain I was thinking about okay he just popped his yard I was thinking about I was my main phone. So after that, the gun went off because I was trying to keep it from sitting here on the pulling on my shoot. I'm like, "Dang, look, we got a newborn, a one-year-old, and a whole face on his brother. We don't need this." Um this >> what the way I was I was sitting in the chair. I was in that chair. He leaned over me. He was trying to get the gun in front of me. I was trying to keep the gun from him. He got the gun in front of me. over to the other side of the jail without finding me. >> There are many things about her story that don't make sense. But one thing that police truly don't understand where the hell did he supposedly get the gun from in the first place? >> He got the gun. Where did he get the gun from? Where was it located in the house? Because when I came back in the car, he had >> Okay. What was he doing? >> He was loaded up in the car until I went back to the hospital. >> What? What? >> The That's why I was like playing because that's why I said I was going to call the police cuz he had he had brought the outside and looked like he was going to load it up in the car like he was going to go do something to somebody on my phone. So when he loaded when when he brought it outside I'm like call the police I can't drive without my so and he just like problem this that and the third and I I don't know how I got the man I got but I managed to get the man I got and I didn't know where I knew But it wasn't on my mind. It was the bullet in the chain. It was a bullet in the chain. Like I knew he seen him copy it. Call police and I didn't I didn't think he shoot. Now, when you guys uh when you said that you try to you try to take gun from tell you you know what I'm not going to >> I'm about to call a lie. You're lying. >> I mean here here's the point. We're going to get straight to the point. Here's the point we got here. All right. We have move on you. Okay. Right. >> Okay. You going to talk or you going to let me talk? >> I'm not letting me talk. You let me go. >> YOU ARE. >> THINK ABOUT IT. YOU JUST SAID >> YOU RIGHT. WELL, guess what? I got no sense to put you and you together. That's what I'm telling you. >> So you basically telling me that I shot the man. >> I'm not saying you shot the man by no means. I'm telling you you're telling a lie in between. That's what I'm telling you. When I lie about this when I told what I say first I said I'm not against you. I'm here because you listen. Okay. You ain't never you never heard before that point anyway. Like I told I said stop worry about the point of trying to defend. Nothing even say, "Okay, well, here's what you've been in charge." But nobody has accused you of anything. >> You just told me I was lying. >> I I said you tell a lie. Have I accused you of a crime for you to defend yourself? >> You asked my question. >> You asked me what I did. >> You told me I was lying for you. >> I refuse you telling why. I did. >> But what did I not add up? Because initially you said, "Okay, well 15 was somewhere in his house." Okay, he grabbed the gun. I was able to go, "Okay, I I can get by with that." When she said, "Pop the magazine out." So, he want himself. You know, his mind said he's trying to harm yourself. Listen and stop talking. Okay. All right. Listen to me. Don't shut down. Listen to me. Okay. You got to listen. Okay. You said this. Okay. Fair enough. You said, "Okay." And I got up, tried to pull the gun away from him. >> Okay. It wasn't gone. You told me that I'm lying. >> It ain't going nowhere. You're right. Because you don't want to talk to me. >> It's not you coming. It's coming with me. >> Okay. I'm sorry. >> I'm feeling honestly and I'm going through it for real. man like you telling me online every shoot that man. >> Reita can claim that she didn't shoot him all she wants. But according to those close to Johnny, this wouldn't be the first time she pulled a gun on him. >> I know for a fact this ain't the first time she ever did >> ever did what? >> Pull a gun on him. >> You seen her pull a gun out on him before? What happened with this situation? >> Like [snorts] Valentine >> this past Valentine? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> And then one night she fired a gun and two time scam. >> And you seen that happen? >> Okay. What happened? What happened with that situation? Like how did it get started? >> I don't know. I stayed in the room but I heard the gun when it went off. But he can tell you more about that. [snorts] >> Okay. He just told me to stay in the room because it had went out two times. >> Can you recall any other incidents where they got into it and something that you saw? >> Anywhere. Anywhere. She'll pull up on >> What about in the home though? Did you actually like see anything like any arguments or >> Yeah. >> fighting? You did see arguments? You ain't see fighting just argument. Who would always seem like the primary aggressor? Was it one or >> Okay. [snorts] Aggressor might even be an understatement when it comes to Reanita because several times over the course of their three-year relationship. Johnny had to call his mother, siblings, or friends to come get him after being battered by her. >> You know, you see it firstand my phone goes out and she put her hands on him. She's going to put your hands on somebody like that. They're holding your child. This baby defenseless. I mean, I just did not understand. Um I never seen somebody that was sleep that I never seen her that way. anybody that I've ever spoken to before now just in regards to my family period. She never was speaking nice type of person to speak to anybody. Um when it came down to him, she never even wanted him around his family, you know. And I'm a firm believer that women can be abusive in relationships too, especially when they know maybe you have a history when you were younger that um may follow your background and they try to use it against you. Police have all the character testimony they need to prove that Reanita is a toxic, violent partner who has threatened Johnny's life in the past, but they may not even need it because Reanita's actively digging her own grave as she tries and fails to show how the gun went off. >> Blair, >> I had it right here. >> All right. >> And he was pulling on. >> Okay. >> And he got a good pull. >> Okay. And it all says you see >> just about just like me. How long? >> Huh? >> How long? I don't know how long. >> But when he shot me, he had got the gun from to to burn. >> I guess is that what happened? >> Yeah, that's what happened. What I'm saying is when the gun went off, he had what I'm saying cuz he had got it from up under my arm. That's all I did was soon as I got the gun, it went off. Bang. >> Yeah, >> that's it. >> Yeah. >> You had your arm, right? >> Yes. >> So, how you like this, right? >> Was it like this? >> It was like this. >> Okay. What? What would you have his hand in? >> My purse. >> Your hand his hand on purpose. >> Yes. >> Okay. Go ahead. >> And he was just plugging just like this. >> Okay. >> And it slipped. >> My arm. >> So he did it on her no accidental shooting. Like it might have been accidental like damn I shot myself and I didn't even shoot myself real type [ __ ] but that >> okay >> and he's been shot with that [ __ ] and he realiz He didn't know it was >> Were y'all still in close proximity of each other? >> Yeah. >> Y like right here. >> A little bit close. >> Okay. Right here. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Because I was in the chair when he was standing right here and he shot it. >> And then he hold it up like this. >> No. probably where he know that >> I don't know how he at that point. >> So I'm ask where he know that >> like here or here down angle up down >> I want to say down >> to down this >> I think so >> I think I think he was I think he had it straight >> straight. >> Yeah I think he had it straight. He went all the way down and pulled a trigger. >> Yeah. >> What the heck? >> He must [ __ ] up or what? >> Yeah. >> For the next two hours, police press her again and again to make sense of the situation. And with each minute, she grows more desperate. >> And if I can answer every single question that asking, I promise y'all would get out of here. One cold, two, I'm about to have a panic attack. three. I feel like this is about to get on me because this man did some stupid and and I don't know what to say cuz it happened so bad. I don't know how I got it. You don't know you got it. You don't know what button you press. You don't know the magazine release or the trigger. You don't know how you got the gun. You don't know how you ended up on a chair. You don't know how you end up sitting down or standing up. You don't know. >> If you said the magazine was still in take the magazine out, >> but you said that was not mine. You said you took the magazine out. You told me that I took the magazine out because you see your boy, you going to believe me? >> But I don't have my glasses on. I couldn't see. That's what I'm saying. But what did you say about the pistol though? You said I you know the magazine really feels like that AR like that. The only time I is when I shot the ar one of the DSR teeth that we did performing your hand that How >> do you call that positive that you on your hand? >> I just >> you in close proximity of it. So it it >> do what? >> I mean you I'm telling you I didn't shoot. You saying what if it come back positive. So then what? Cuz you said it travel. So if it travel then what? I'm getting charged. It's on your clothes or on my hand and if it is on my hand to his wound but like I said I let y'all do y'all wish I had to do I ain't wash my hand yet just in case y'all want to do it again. That's what I'm saying. I'm not trying to be not trying to comply anything. I'm trying to give y'all everything y That's what I'm saying. I ain't got nothing to hide. And if it do come back positive, then I guess what to deal with it. But I know one damn thing. I didn't shoot the man. If I shoot the man taking care of me and my kids for real, but you realize I'm not saying you shot me intently. >> Ultimately, at trial, it was proven that Reita was holding the weapon when Johnny was killed. Gunshot residue and the angle of projectiles and blood spatter proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was the person who pulled the trigger. However, Reita was able to plead down her charges, [music] ultimately pleading guilty to manslaughter, which has resulted in just a 20-year sentence. Our thoughts are with Johnny and his loved ones as they navigate life without him. Thank you for tuning in. Besides subscribing to help us make more videos exactly like this one, you can also listen to all of our crime podcasts over on Spotify. 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