A 22-year-old South Burlington woman, Aaliyah D. Johnson, pleaded not guilty on Monday to first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Teville G. Williams, 30, outside Red Square nightclub in Burlington, Vermont. The incident occurred early Saturday morning and was captured on the nightclub’s security cameras.
The altercation began inside Red Square, located in the Church Street Marketplace, and escalated into a shooting just outside the front door. Johnson is currently being held without bail at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington.
According to court documents, the security footage shows Johnson either spilling or throwing a drink at Williams. Williams then allegedly struck Johnson and pulled her hair. Following the altercation, Red Square staff directed both individuals to leave the premises through separate exits. Williams exited through the front door while Johnson left through a side door and proceeded towards Church Street.
Police reports detail that after the altercation, Johnson pulled out a loaded Glock .45 caliber handgun and shot Williams multiple times from a distance of less than 10 feet. Detective Corporal Krystal A. Wrinn stated in court papers that Johnson approached police officers at the scene and surrendered her white purse, which contained the firearm. Johnson reportedly told police, “He hit me in my face, pulled my hair.” When asked if she was the shooter, she responded, “No, it was me, it was me,” and then offered her unzipped purse, with the handgun partially visible, saying, “you can take it.”
Officer McGee’s report further states that Johnson claimed her gun was legal and that she carried it downtown because she was afraid of men. She expressed being “tired of men putting their hands on her.” South Burlington Police records indicate an arrest for driving under the influence two years prior, when Johnson was 20, but no record of a conviction.
Williams was found face down on the pavement outside the nightclub. Despite life-saving efforts by bystanders and first responders, he was pronounced dead on arrival at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Stowe Police were reportedly unfamiliar with Williams, and the Mountain Road address listed for him is believed to be a rental unit for ski resort employees.
Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad stated that the homicide appears to be an isolated incident between two individuals who knew each other. He emphasized that this incident is not believed to be connected to the recent series of shootings and fights involving teenagers and young adults in the city.
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak acknowledged the troubling nature of the incident and its impact on the community’s sense of safety. She highlighted the city’s ongoing efforts to address complex challenges within the community safety system, focusing on interrupting cycles of violence and supporting victims and survivors.
Red Square posted on Facebook that the nightclub would remain closed on Saturday night to allow staff time to reflect and process the tragic event. The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
The increased bar crowds downtown on Friday night were attributed to the return of college students from three local institutions that commenced fall classes this week. Community service officer Thomas Young, who was on patrol in City Hall Park, reported hearing seven gunshots near the Church Street Marketplace around 12:28 a.m. Saturday, prompting an immediate response from the Burlington city emergency dispatch center.
