A packed courtroom watched video of the 2024 confrontation minutes before the gunfire on Church Street.
BURLINGTON, Vt. — Aaliyah Johnson, 23, was sentenced Thursday to a split 20-to-life term requiring 13½ years in prison before probation for the killing of 30-year-old Teville Williams outside Red Square in 2024. Johnson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, ending a case that began with a first-degree charge and more than a year of pretrial hearings.
The sentencing capped a long, public reckoning over late-night violence in the city’s downtown entertainment district. Prosecutors said Johnson fired seven rounds at close range in front of dozens of people after the pair had been separated by bar staff. The defense emphasized Johnson’s age, lack of prior record and a history of trauma, urging a lower minimum. Judge John Pacht said he saw deep loss on both sides and concluded a 13½-year minimum recognized the harm and gave room for rehabilitation. The decision leaves Johnson under a life term if she violates supervision after release.
Jurors were never impaneled. Instead, the case turned on video and sworn statements presented in court. Security footage shows a dispute spilling from the nightclub just before 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 24, 2024. Staff escorted Johnson out a side exit and Williams out the front. On the bricks of Church Street, Johnson rounded the corner, reached into her purse and opened fire. Williams collapsed as people scattered. Medics rushed him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. “It’s been exactly 523 days without him, and our lives have been at a standstill,” said his sister, Renay Spence, speaking for a family that wore T-shirts with his image.
Chittenden County State’s Attorney Sarah George told the court she entered the hearing asking for a full 20-year minimum served, but said Johnson’s apology and demeanor weighed on her assessment. Defense attorney Margaret Jansch asked for eight years and described Johnson’s trauma and undiagnosed post-traumatic stress as context for the decisions that night. Johnson, who has a young daughter, faced the family and said, “I apologize for every tear you’ve shed because of my actions resulting in the loss of your brother.” Pacht, at times visibly moved, replied that in another time the two families might have shared meals before noting the law required him to sentence for murder on a public street.
The shooting intensified discussions about gun rules in Burlington’s bars. Voters have twice approved charter changes to allow a local prohibition on firearms in establishments that serve alcohol, the most recent last spring with about 87% in favor. The changes require legislative approval, which has stalled amid concerns about a patchwork of municipal gun laws. City leaders revived the request earlier this month as part of a wider review of nightlife safety on the pedestrian mall. Businesses on Church Street have added cameras, tightened door checks and altered staffing since the killing.
Under Vermont law, second-degree murder is punishable by 20 years to life. By accepting a plea to that charge, Johnson avoided the first-degree minimum of at least 35 years to life. The judge’s order means she becomes eligible for probation after serving 13½ years; any violation could send her back to prison under the life sentence. George said the sentence reflected the gravity of a deadly act carried out in a crowded public space. Jansch said the court recognized her client’s potential to rehabilitate. Neither side indicated plans to appeal.
Inside the courthouse, deputies added seating as relatives from both families lined the aisles. Some gasped when the screens showed Johnson drawing the handgun from her purse; others bowed their heads. A few people stepped into the hallway during the playback. After the ruling, Spence hugged relatives through tears. Friends of Johnson, also crying, said they hoped she would have access to counseling and programs in custody. Outside, a cold wind moved along the brick corridor, and passersby slowed to watch news cameras pack up.
Johnson was remanded to the Vermont Department of Corrections to begin serving her sentence. City officials expect legislative committees to take up the proposed charter change on firearms in bars in the coming weeks. No additional hearings in Johnson’s case are on the calendar.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.