Editor’s Note: The following is the first of a two part series by Andrew Payne analyzing the tailgate shootings and their repercussions. Look for the second part, and a deeper analysis, in next week’s paper.

Saturday, September 4, 2004 – No one in attendance at North Carolina State University’s football season opener against the University of Richmond Spiders knew that the pre-game festivities would turn deadly. Thousands of fans (students and non-students, ticket-holders and non ticket-holders) gathered in the state fairgrounds parking lot to tailgate, consuming the typical fare of barbecue, hamburgers, chicken and alcohol – lots of alcohol.

Once the game ended, NCSU faced an international crisis. Two people were dead while two suspects were on the run – one of whom was a student. Friends Kevin McCann, 23, of Chicago and 2nd Lt. Brett Harmon, 23, of Park Ridge, Illinois, met with other friends to party at the NCSU tailgate. Harman, a Marine based at Camp Lejeune, was scheduled to leave for the Iraqi War in January. Once at their tailgate party, McCann and Harmon began to toss a football in the fairgrounds parking lot.

In another section of the fairgrounds parking lot, Tony Harrell Johnson, 20, was accidentally hit with a football. Johnson lost his temper and got into an altercation with the people throwing the football. After the fight Johnson got into his car, left the area and drove toward the section where Harman and McCann were located. As he drove away, Johnson hit one car and almost hit a man and his young daughter. When Johnson stopped his car for some other pedestrians, Harman and McCann approached the car, reached inside and pulled Johnson’s head back. They beat him a couple of times for driving recklessly through the crowd.

Johnson got out of the car and tried to punch McCann and Harman. McCann pushed Johnson up against the car. When Johnson tried to “throw a second punch, he was thrown to the ground.” He then got up and drove away.

Shortly after kickoff, approximately an hour after the initial confrontation, Johnson returned in his car to the tailgate. He also hit another car in the process. Then Johnson began berating bystanders to find out whom he had brawled with earlier. Johnson then began yelling at Harman and McCann, challenging them to follow him to where his brother and friends were. Tony Johnson told his brother, Timothy Wayne Johnson, 22, that several guys had jumped him and Timothy Johnson told him he “would take care of it.”

Tony Johnson then broke a beer bottle and began taunting Harman and McCann with it. Then Tony Johnson put the broken bottle up against one of their necks. Harman then tackled Tony Johnson, who cut Harman across the face and chest with the beer bottle. Then Timothy Johnson shot and killed Harman. McCann clutched Timothy Johnson in a tight hug in an effort to break up the fight. He was then shot in the head by Timothy Johnson.

The shooting occurred about 6 p.m. on Trinity Road at Youth Center Drive, immediately across from the football stadium. Many of the fans parked in the fairgrounds lot were still tailgating when the shootings took place.

The Johnson brothers ran from the scene and were chased by 10-15 people including Walter Reddick. Reddick was able to obtain the license plate number of the Johnsons’ car and then called 911. Police and emergency responders had difficulty reaching the scene because of congestion caused by vehicular and pedestrian traffic. McCann died at the scene. Harmon died on the way to WakeMed Hospital.

The game continued uninterrupted. Police cordoned off a large tailgating section encompassing cars, tents and grills. Several tailgaters were cited for ignoring police warnings and crossing into the crime scene to reach their vehicles. The State Fairgrounds Police Department asked the Wake County Sheriff’s Department to take over the investigation.

By 9 p.m., a deputy from the Wake County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the home of the Johnsons’ parents to look for the brothers. By 9:30 p.m., police investigators had reduced the crime scene area. During the second half, with the Wolfpack defeating the University of Richmond 42-0, fans started to return to their cars. The Wake County Sheriff’s Department arrested Timothy Johnson on Harden Road in Raleigh at 11:55 p.m. Saturday night.

Tony Johnson fled to Wilson after the shootings but turned himself in to Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison at 1:09 a.m. on Sunday.

The story was picked up by media outlets all over the country including the three major television networks, CNN, ESPN, The Los Angles Times and Miami Herald. Additionally, news outlets in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom reported on the incident. The story dominated the front page of NC’s Sunday newspapers. Coverage was particularly heavy in the Southeast and Illinois – the home of the victims. The Johnson brothers, both of Raleigh, were charged with first-degree murder. Both were held in the Wake County jail without bail.

E-mail Andrew at viewpoint@technicianonline.com