Bio 

Mila Johnson was born in 1977. Before the murders, Johnson had known Duane Bailey and Glen Enriquez for years. According to statements made during trial, the men were longtime friends and had gang ties. Johnson had been staying at the Harbor Gateway home where Bailey, Enriquez, and Sonia Chandiramani were present.

Testimony at trial described a dispute involving drug money. Johnson claimed he expected to receive about $30,000 from a drug-related robbery or “rip-off” involving marijuana. He said the argument over that money led to the confrontation inside the house. Prosecutors presented a different account, arguing that Johnson entered a bedroom to steal from Enriquez and Chandiramani while they were sleeping.

Murder Story

In the early morning hours of August 9, 2006, violence broke out inside a home in the Harbor Gateway area of Los Angeles County, California. Mila Johnson had been staying at the residence with people he had known for years, including Duane Bailey and Glen Enriquez. Sonia Chandiramani, Enriquez’s girlfriend, was also in the home.

According to prosecutors, Johnson entered the bedroom shared by Enriquez and Chandiramani at about 2 a.m. while armed with a .40-caliber pistol. Deputy District Attorney Dayan Mathai argued that Johnson had gone into the room to steal and was confronted by Enriquez. The prosecutor said Johnson opened fire, shooting both Enriquez and Chandiramani in the head. Chandiramani died, while Enriquez survived but was permanently blinded.

Johnson then went to Bailey’s room. Prosecutors said Bailey, another longtime friend, was shot in the back before Johnson fled the house. Bailey also died from the shooting. Ballistics testing later linked a .40-caliber handgun connected to Johnson to shell casings found at the crime scene. Prosecutors also said Johnson’s DNA was found on the gun.

Johnson testified in his own defense. He admitted shooting Bailey and Enriquez but said he acted because he feared for his safety. According to Johnson, Enriquez pulled a gun on him after Johnson asked again for his share of money from a drug-related robbery. Johnson said he fired because he believed his life was in danger. He also testified that Bailey later emerged with a weapon and that he shot Bailey out of fear. Johnson denied intentionally shooting Chandiramani.

The defense argued that the shootings were not intentional murders and that Johnson acted in self-defense during a dispute among people involved in criminal activity. Prosecutors rejected that claim, arguing that Johnson betrayed and killed people who had allowed him to stay in their home.

On March 12, 2010, Johnson was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Duane Bailey and Sonia Chandiramani. He was also convicted of attempted murder and mayhem for the shooting of Glen Enriquez. The case included a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.

The first jury deadlocked on whether Johnson should receive death or life imprisonment without parole. A second jury later recommended the death penalty in July 2010. On September 3, 2010, Norwalk Superior Court Judge Philip H. Hikok sentenced Johnson to death after rejecting an automatic motion to reduce the sentence to life without parole.