Nicole “Nico” Cunigan Jr: Dayton Man Sentenced to Nearly 40 Years in Prison for Double Homicide

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A local man from Dayton, Ohio will spend the next four decades behind bars for a horrific act of violence that took two lives, including that of an unborn child.

On Friday, August 29, 2025, Nicole “Nico” Cunigan Jr. received his sentence for the murders of Precious Taste and 16-year-old Deante Johnson.

Nicole Cunigan 


The tragic events that led to this sentencing began in the early hours of May 22, 2024. 

Just after 6:20 a.m., Dayton police officers were called to a home on Shaftesbury Road after reports of a shooting. 

When they arrived, both Precious Taste, who was approximately 15 weeks pregnant, and teenager Deante Johnson were found dead.

According to police records, the violence erupted after Cunigan and Taste got into an argument, about her vehicle.

During the fight, Taste told Cunigan she did not want to be in a relationship with him anymore, as reported by Dayton Daily News.

After the argument, crominal investigators reported that Cunigan left but returned shortly after.

He then pushed in Taste’s bedroom window, spoke to her briefly, before pulling out a gun and firing into the room.

Sadly, the gunshot missed its intended target and killed Deante Johnson, who was related to another resident in the home. 

Cunigan then forced his way inside through the window, chased Taste through the house, and shot her multiple times, as per Dayton Daily News. 

Taste’s 3-year-old twin daughters, whom she shared with Cunigan, were home at the time of the shooting. 

Precious Taste 


Thankfully, they were unharmed physically during the crime spree, but sadly, they are now left to grow up without their mother.

Tragically, this was not the first time Taste had been a victim of Cunigan’s violence. 

At the time of the shooting, Nico Cunigan was on parole from a previous conviction for felonious assault after he stabbed Taste.

After nearly two months of being on the run, he was finally arrested and charged, as per 

During the trial, a jury found Cunigan guilty on a multitude of charges, including four counts of murder. 

The judge sentenced him to 39 years to life in prison, meaning he must serve nearly 40 years before he is even eligible for parole. 

This sentence ensures he will be held accountable for his actions.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse or violence, please know you are not alone. 

The Artemis Center offers a free, confidential support hotline at 937-461-HELP (4357). 

The Dayton Family Justice Center, which works with the Artemis Center and YWCA Dayton, is also a vital resource for anyone seeking safety and support.

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