Antonio Johnston. PC: Fox 11 Online
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Family and friends of Tatyanna Zech are asking for the community’s help in capturing her killer. And they’re hoping cash will lead to an arrest in her homicide case.
There isn’t a day that goes by when Rick Zech says he doesn’t shed a tear for his granddaughter Tatyanna Zech.
He says, “It’s hard. It’s awful hard. I can’t hug my granddaughter no more because she ain’t here.”
It’s been nearly two months since the 20-year old was gunned down in a parking lot of the Maplewood Commons apartment complex in Fond du Lac.
The woman’s death leaving her family asking why.
“This has tore this family apart,” says Antonio Godfrey Sr., Zech’s uncle. He adds, “She’s deeply missed. Her nieces and nephews, they don’t understand why Auntie “Taty” isn’t here anymore over something senseless.”
According to police, 17-year old Antonio Johnston and 14-year old Parise Larry, who were quickly identified as suspects. The two are accused of opening fire on a group of people following an argument with an 18-year old man who was also injured in the shooting.
While Parise turned himself into police a few days after the shooting, Johnston remains on the run.
“People are upset. We’re upset about it. Why ain’t he turned himself in and his mom ain’t turning him in. Why? She’s got to know where he’s at,” says Rick Zech.
According to Fond du Lac Police, they are following up on leads, almost daily, in their search for Johnston.
“We’re partnering with other agencies, doing everything we possibly can do to locate him. We obviously rely on those tips and the community for information and we will continue to track down any lead that we get in our attempts to look for him,” says Det. Cammie Vandermolen.
Zech’s family wants to help generate tips and leads too.
With the approval of the Fond du Lac Police Department, the family launched a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $2,000. It’s money they plan to offer as a reward for tips leading to Antonio Johnston’s arrest.
According to Antonio Godfrey, “I’m hoping that that small amount of cash will tip the scale for someone to turn them in. We can say it all say, someone knows.”
Fond du Lac Police agree.
Det. Vandermolen adds, “I find it very hard to believe that a 17-year-old has the resources, either shelter or food or money to keep themselves on the run. Some of those people that may be on the fence -should I call, should I not call, should I get involved, maybe they’re afraid to get involved. But maybe that money is just sort of that little bit of encouragement that will say, you know what, I want to do the right thing.”
If the fundraiser exceeds the $2,000 goal, the family says it will hand all additional money over to the police department who will then decide how to distribute it to the tipster if Johnston is apprehended.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Antonio Johnston should give Fond du Lac Police a call. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
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