Executive Summary
- Sentencing for Parise Larry was paused Friday after a physical disturbance erupted in the courtroom gallery.
- Larry and co-defendant Antonio Johnston face mandatory life sentences for the 2023 murder of Tatyanna Zech.
- The fatal shooting originated from a dispute over a necklace and involved convictions for first-degree intentional homicide.
A sentencing hearing for a teenager convicted in the 2023 murder of Tatyanna Zech was abruptly suspended in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on Friday morning after a physical altercation broke out in the courtroom gallery. According to witnesses and court reports, deputies intervened to break up a scuffle among observers, prompting the judge to pause the proceedings regarding the sentencing of Parise Larry.
Parise Larry, 17, and Antonio Johnston, 19, have both been convicted of first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the death of Zech in May 2023. Under Wisconsin law, the conviction carries a mandatory life sentence. A jury found Larry guilty in October on multiple counts, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless injury, and possessing a weapon under the age of 18. Johnston pleaded guilty to all charges in January.
The fatal shooting occurred after a cookout, where Zech was struck in the head while taking out trash. During Larry’s trial, testimony indicated that the violence stemmed from a dispute involving a necklace. Johnston testified that there was “bad blood” between him and Keshawn Johnson, a surviving victim, who had allegedly mocked a chain Larry wore during a live stream. Larry testified that he fired his weapon claiming fear for his life, asserting he saw other men draw guns.
Following the shooting, Larry fled the scene to Milwaukee and subsequently to Chicago without seeking medical assistance for the victims. He was later apprehended. The sentencing hearing is expected to resume once order is fully restored and security assessments are completed.
Judicial Security and Procedural Protocols
The disruption of the sentencing hearing underscores the heightened tensions often present in judicial proceedings involving violent crimes and young defendants. When emotional outbursts in the gallery escalate into physical altercations, presiding judges are mandated to halt proceedings to ensure the physical safety of court officers, legal counsel, and the public. While the defendants have already been convicted, ensuring a secure environment is a prerequisite for finalizing the mandatory life sentences dictated by state statutes.
