Law enforcement sources and family members told the New York Post on Thursday, June 30, that Azsia Johnson, the young mom fatally shot while pushing her 3-month-old daughter in a stroller on the Upper East Side, was allegedly abused by the infant's father. He is now being sought for questioning by police.
According to the victim's heartbroken mom, Lisa Desort, her daughter had been allegedly assaulted by her ex-boyfriend at least once. She said Johnson was afraid when he found out she had given birth and had been released from the hospital.
She added he was stalking Johnson to the point that he knew when she was discharged from Mount Sinai hospital with her daughter. She said the young mother even moved to a domestic abuse shelter at one point to keep her safe from her ex-boyfriend, but somehow he still found out where she lived.
Johnson planned to meet her former partner despite her fears
Johnson texted her relatives that she planned to meet the baby's dad on Wednesday night despite her fears about her former partner, telling them that she felt bad that he was not in their daughter's life and wanted her to know him.
She was walking with her infant girl in a stroller at around 8:23 P.M. near the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 95th Street when the suspect, dressed in a black hoodie and sweatpants, shot her once in the head and fled the scene of the crime, according to the Daily Beast.
A high-ranking police source revealed that Johnson was targeted, as it was a close head shot to the victim, and powder burns were found on her. Law enforcement sources confirmed that her shooting death was domestic in nature. No arrests have been made in connection with Johnson's shooting, and the gunman's identity has also not been released.
Investigators are now looking to speak to the ex-boyfriend in connection with Johnson's murder, and he is considered a person of interest in the shooting. According to sources, the ex was actively calling his family members while he was on the run to check on the baby, who was unharmed during the shooting.
Johnson made multiple domestic violence complaints
Desort described her daughter as a wonderful and exceptional young lady with big dreams. The proud mom revealed Johnson was just enrolling in nursing school, saying she worked hard and dreams of becoming a pediatric nurse in the near future.
Desort added that her daughter was currently on maternity leave from her job as a home health aide taking care of the elderly, saying that she was a good girl who was never in trouble and respectable.
Desort told NBC New York that Johnson reported her ex to the cops on New Year's Day, saying he had assaulted her at his home in Jamaica, Queens, while she was six months pregnant with his baby.
