A man who police now say was inside the car with murder victim Marquel Fallen at the time of his fatal shooting last month is accused of taking evidence from Fallen’s pocket after the shooting, police said.
Derrinton Johnson, 22, of 331 Germania Ave., faces one count each of fourth-degree grand larceny, tampering with physical evidence, felonies, and criminal possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor.
The charges against Johnson relate to the Jan. 30 fatal shooting of 22-year-old Fallen. Police said a shooter or shooters killed Fallen as he sat in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked outside 315 Germania Ave. just before 4 p.m. that day.
Police said Fallen died after being shot multiple times. His killing remains unsolved.
Police spokesman Lt. Mark McCracken on Thursday described Johnson and Fallen as acquaintances.
Police records also indicate Johnson lives on the same block as the shooting.
Johnson, who is also known as Daquan Johnson, is accused of taking from Fallen’s front pants pocket two cellphones and $3 in cash after the shooting. Paperwork describes the phones as an iPhone and a flip-style cellphone.
At the time of the theft, paperwork reads, Fallen “had just been shot and was unresponsive.”
Johnson is accused of taking the property “with the intent to prevent said property from being used as evidence in an investigation,” according to paperwork.
The charges are based on the police investigation, including physical evidence, witness statements and “admissions made by the defendant.”
Johnson is being represented by the public defender’s office. His attorney there could not be reached.
McCracken offered no new details on the underlying investigation into who shot Fallen.
McCracken said Johnson could be a potential victim if a charge of reckless endangerment is filed against whoever killed Fallen.
A friend of Fallen has described him as a bright kid who loved to play basketball. He had lived in Schenectady for at least eight years.
Police have asked that anyone with information related to Fallen’s killing to contact the Schenectady Police Department at 788-6566.
Johnson remained held at the Schenectady County Jail on $7,500 bail on Thursday. He is due back in court this morning.
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Categories: News, Schenectady County
