Aurora woman accused of ramming SUV, shooting at teens

Anieka Johnson could have found a nonviolent solution or notified authorities after she learned her cousin’s daughter was punched in a fight on Aug. 30, 2010.

Instead, the 34-year-old woman repeatedly rammed a sport utility vehicle containing seven teens on Aurora’s west side and fired two shots at it, grazing a then-13-year-old girl in the chest, Kane County prosecutors argued Monday afternoon.

“This defendant — although her aim was off and not true — her intentions were clear that afternoon, to kill somebody in that car,” Assistant State’s Attorney William Engerman said to jurors in his opening argument.

Johnson faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, and unlawful use of a weapon.

If convicted, she faces a six- to 30-year prison sentence and probation is not an option.

Engerman said Johnson zeroed in on a tan Ford Explorer traveling on the city’s west side after learning a relative was in a fight earlier that day. A chase ensued, with Johnson ramming the SUV with her Ford Windstar minivan and at some point yelling, “Y’all trying to beat up little girls?” at the SUV.

Finally, at Nantucket Drive and Indian Trail Road, Johnson fired two shots from her 9 mm handgun at the SUV before cutting it off and causing both cars to crash.

Engerman said that after Johnson was arrested, she told investigators where to find the gun. When police did, it had 13 of 15 bullets in the ammunition clip. A bullet found lodged in the SUV and fragments found in a nearby car both matched Johnson’s gun after being tested by a ballistics lab, Engerman said.

The victim, who was 13 at the time but recently turned 15, testified that she was sitting in the right rear cargo area of the SUV and everyone was scared when the van was bumping the Explorer.

“I guess she wanted us to stop,” said victim, whose said the wound still itches and burns nearly two years after the bullet grazed her.

“I didn’t really feel it right after it first happened,” the victim said of being shot.

Johnson’s defense attorney, Dan Collins, has opted to wait until the state was done presenting its case before giving his opening argument. The state is expected to wrap up its case Wednesday.