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One year ago, Pope Leo declared the birth of Tyquan Johnson a miracle.
This week, the 19-year-old was arrested in connection with a double shooting.
The Rhode Island teen — whose remarkable survival as an infant was recognized by the Vatican as a certified act of God — has been arrested by US Marshals.
According to a police report obtained by TMZ, Johnson was taken into custody Wednesday by members of the Marshals Fugitive Task Force at a residence in Virginia after authorities alleged he fled Rhode Island following the July 19 shooting.
Investigators say Johnson is accused of shooting two people in Newport before leaving the state. Both victims survived and were treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Authorities have also said they are seeking a second person for questioning in connection with the incident.
The arrest has drawn widespread attention because of Johnson’s extraordinary medical history.
Johnson was born prematurely in January 2007 and suffered a severe lack of oxygen shortly after birth. According to the Diocese of Providence, doctors believed he was unlikely to survive.
After a physician reportedly prayed for the intercession of 19th-century Spanish priest Salvador Valera Parra, the infant unexpectedly recovered without lasting complications.
Following a years-long investigation by Church officials, Pope Leo XIV formally recognized Johnson’s recovery as a miracle in 2025, making it the first miracle approved during his papacy and the first officially recognized miracle connected to Rhode Island.
Authorities have charged Johnson with felony assault with a firearm and firing a weapon in a compact area. As with all criminal defendants, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Vatican has not publicly commented on Johnson’s arrest.
The unusual turn of events has generated significant attention because of the stark contrast between Johnson’s widely publicized survival story and the serious criminal allegations he now faces.
The criminal case is expected to proceed through the Rhode Island court system as investigators continue gathering evidence and searching for the second individual they believe may have information about the shooting.
We will have further updates on this unusual story as new information becomes available.
