A Rhode Island man whose birth was officially recognized as a miracle by Pope Leo XIV has been arrested in connection with a double shooting. Tyquan Johnson, 19, was taken into custody Wednesday morning by the U.S. Marshals fugitive task force at an apartment in Virginia, according to the Newport Police Department.
Johnson is wanted for allegedly shooting two individuals in Newport on July 19. Following the incident, he reportedly fled to Virginia, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest. Both victims suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. Officials are also seeking a second unidentified person for questioning in connection with the case.
Johnson faces charges of felony assault with a firearm and firing in a compact area. The circumstances surrounding the shooting have not been detailed further by law enforcement.
Johnson’s birth in 2007 was declared a miracle by Pope Leo XIV in a 2025 statement, marking it as the first recognized miracle of the pope’s tenure and the first such event officially acknowledged in Rhode Island. According to reports from at the time, Johnson was deprived of oxygen for over an hour shortly after birth but recovered without medical intervention, an outcome that drew significant attention from religious authorities.
The arrest of Johnson comes nearly a year after the papal recognition and highlights a stark contrast between the early hopes surrounding his birth and the recent criminal allegations. Legal proceedings are pending, and authorities have not released additional information regarding the motive or any potential connection between the arrest and his medical history.