Man once declared a miracle by Pope now wanted for double shooting
Tyquan Johnson, whose 2007 premature birth was labeled a miracle by Pope Leo XIV, is being sought on a felony firearm assault charge after a July 19 double shooting in Newport, Rhode Island.
In 2007, Tyquan Johnson was declared dead for over an hour after a premature birth, but a physician’s prayer to Father Salvador Valera Parra restored his heartbeat, an event the Catholic Church later classified as a miracle and Pope Leo XIV officially recognized in 2025. The 19-year-old is now the subject of a police warrant for felony assault with a firearm following a double shooting in Newport, Rhode Island, on July 19 that left two young men, 22 and 25, injured but alive.
Detectives believe the attack was targeted and have labeled Johnson and another suspect as armed and dangerous in a Facebook notice from the Newport Police Department. Johnson’s mother told WPRI-TV she has not been in contact with him for several days. The case has drawn attention because of the stark contrast between his celebrated revival and the alleged violent crime. Local media outlets WAVY-TV and others have reported on the investigation.
Why it matters
The story highlights a dramatic shift from a celebrated religious miracle to a serious criminal investigation, underscoring how past fame does not shield individuals from legal accountability.
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