Police search for gunman

By RACHEL STULTS • Staff Writer (Tennessean) • March 13, 2008 Police have identified and are searching for the gunman believed to have shot and killed a 21-year-old man Wednesday night. Travis Taylor, 20, of Cannon Street, faces charges of criminal homicide and attempted criminal homicide in the death of Stephen Dejuan Johnson, who was shot in the head as the car in which he was riding was fired at while traveling on University Court, police said. Hermitage Precinct detectives say that Johnson and three friends were riding through University Court when multiple shots were fired at the rear of their car. Officer Cassandra Del Bosco heard the shots and saw a car with a shattered rear window pull onto Lafayette Street from First Avenue South. Del Bosco pulled the car over and found Johnson dead in the back seat. Police are investigating whether the shooting is linked to a recent altercation at a local nightclub. Anyone who has seen Travis Taylor should contact Hermitage Precinct detectives at 862-6993 or Crime Stoppers at 742-7463. At the time of the shooting, Taylor was free on a $1,000 bond after a domestic assault arrest on Feb. 22. He also has convictions for cocaine possession, trespassing and evading arrest.