Anthony Johnson (COURTESY BRISTOL POLICE DEPARTMENT / November 3, 2009)
BRISTOL -
Fred Felix was shot in the back of the head while trying to pull someone from a fight at a housing project on Davis Drive over the weekend, relatives of the slain 24-year-old said today.
"He was trying to get [him] into the car so the fight wouldn't continue. He was killed for trying to save someone else," Felix' cousin William Reyes said after the arraignment at Superior Court in Bristol of the suspected shooter.
Anthony Johnson is charged with murder. A heavily armed SWAT team, Bristol detectives and Southington police took Johnson into custody shortly before 2 a.m. today after obtaining an arrest warrant.
He appeared in a white jumpsuit and handcuffs in court, where bail was set at $5 million. He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 10 in New Britain. He was convicted in March for drug sales. It is his only criminal conviction.
"The way I read this warrant, this wasn't just a murder, it was an execution," state prosecutor Jeffrey Lee said during the arraignment. He said the warrant contains substantial evidence implicating Johnson.
Johnson's attorney, Patrick Cooney, said he doesn't see the evidence against his client in the warrant. He said Johnson, who has no record of violence, maintains his innocence.
Members of Johnson's family who attended the proceeding said police have arrested the wrong person. "He's just not a violent person," said Ritchie Cruz, a relative.
Felix had a 3-year-old daughter. He sold cars for a living and wanted to open a mini-mart one day, Reyes said.
"The whole family is taking it hard," Reyes said.
Courant Staff Writer David Owens contributed to this report.
"He was trying to get [him] into the car so the fight wouldn't continue. He was killed for trying to save someone else," Felix' cousin William Reyes said after the arraignment at Superior Court in Bristol of the suspected shooter.
Anthony Johnson is charged with murder. A heavily armed SWAT team, Bristol detectives and Southington police took Johnson into custody shortly before 2 a.m. today after obtaining an arrest warrant.
He appeared in a white jumpsuit and handcuffs in court, where bail was set at $5 million. He is scheduled to return to court Nov. 10 in New Britain. He was convicted in March for drug sales. It is his only criminal conviction.
"The way I read this warrant, this wasn't just a murder, it was an execution," state prosecutor Jeffrey Lee said during the arraignment. He said the warrant contains substantial evidence implicating Johnson.
Johnson's attorney, Patrick Cooney, said he doesn't see the evidence against his client in the warrant. He said Johnson, who has no record of violence, maintains his innocence.
Members of Johnson's family who attended the proceeding said police have arrested the wrong person. "He's just not a violent person," said Ritchie Cruz, a relative.
Felix had a 3-year-old daughter. He sold cars for a living and wanted to open a mini-mart one day, Reyes said.
"The whole family is taking it hard," Reyes said.
Courant Staff Writer David Owens contributed to this report.
