Black 18-year-old Articia Alyss Johnson, known to her loved ones as 'Ticia,' had her life tragically cut short during a violent incident in the St. Louis area in late 2020. On the night of November 9, the quiet of the evening was shattered by the sound of gunfire at the Canfield Green Apartments in Ferguson, Missouri. Residents in the 9300 block of Caddiefield Road reported hearing shots fired around 10:46 p.m., prompting a swift response from local law enforcement.
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered a harrowing sight inside a vehicle parked at the complex.
Inside the car, authorities found Articia and a 22-year-old male acquaintance, Corzelius Mikiyo Kent. Both individuals had sustained multiple gunshot wounds in what appeared to be a targeted attack. Emergency responders quickly determined that Corzelius had succumbed to his injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Articia, however, was still clinging to life. She was urgently transported to a nearby hospital where medical personnel fought to save her, but despite their best efforts, she passed away the following day, November 10, 2020.
Before her untimely death, Articia was a young woman with a bright future and a passion for caring for others. She worked as a daycare attendant and held aspirations of becoming a Registered Nurse, a dream that reflected her nurturing spirit. She was described by those who knew her as someone who loved working with children and had a gift for connecting with people, often talking to strangers as if they were old friends. Her death left a void in the lives of her family, including her parents and brother, who were left to mourn the loss of a daughter and sister who had just begun her adult life.
The Ferguson Police Department requested the assistance of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis to lead the homicide investigation. Detectives launched a lengthy inquiry, combing through evidence and following leads to determine who was responsible for the double homicide. The investigation eventually pointed toward a suspect from St. Louis who was known to law enforcement.
Approximately two weeks after the shooting, authorities announced a breakthrough in the case. On November 23, 2020, the Major Case Squad revealed that 21-year-old Jajuan Quintrel Foster had been arrested in connection with the deaths. Prosecutors from the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office charged Foster with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and two counts of tampering with physical evidence. A no-bond warrant was issued, ensuring he would remain in custody as the legal proceedings began to unfold.
