Ferguson Shooting Claims Life of Witness in Michael Brown Case

FERGUSON, Mo. — Dorian Johnson, the man who stood beside Michael Brown moments before Brown was fatally shot by a Ferguson police officer in 2014, was himself killed in a shooting Sunday morning, according to FOX 2 St. Louis .

Shooting Details

Police said the shooting occurred around 8:30 a.m. in the 9600 block of Abaco Court near Exuma Drive.

“Officers arrived at the scene and found Dorian Johnson shot multiple times. Johnson later died of his injuries. He was 33,” Ferguson police confirmed.

Authorities reported that one person is in custody, with charges expected through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Officials stressed that police were not involved in the incident.

Johnson’s Role in the Michael Brown Case

Johnson became a pivotal figure in 2014 when he witnessed the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

“His account helped spark protests in Ferguson and nationwide, becoming a symbol of the fight for racial justice,” FOX 2 reported.

Johnson told investigators Brown had been shot in the back while trying to surrender, though those claims were later contradicted by other witness statements and reviewed in a 2015 Justice Department report.

Renewed National Attention

The death of Johnson has drawn widespread attention, coming more than a decade after Ferguson became a focal point of nationwide protests and debate over policing and racial justice.

“The death of Johnson, years after the city became a national focal point, is seen by many as a tragic irony and is already drawing renewed national attention,” FOX 2 reported.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Ferguson Police Department detectives at 314-522-3100.

Johnson’s death underscores ongoing struggles with gun violence in St. Louis County and renews memories of one of the nation’s most pivotal civil rights moments in recent history. For more updates on Missouri news and community stories, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.