In a tragic turn of events that unfolded both on the streets of Columbia, South Carolina, and on television screens across the country, Benjamin Johnson, a 37-year-old father of four, lost his life. On a Friday night in January 2017, what began as a purported drug transaction at a home on Camelot Street descended into a fatal altercation. Johnson was shot in the upper body and pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
The aftermath of the shooting gained
unexpected national attention as a camera crew for the A&E reality television show 'Live PD' was riding along with Richland County Sheriff's deputies when they responded to the scene. In a shocking twist for his family, footage of Johnson's body lying in the front yard of the home was broadcast, leading to the unimaginable experience of learning about their loved one's death through a television program. While the sheriff's department stated that Johnson's face was not shown and he was not identified on air, his family members recognized the location and their relative immediately, causing profound distress.
In the days following the tragic incident, law enforcement officials announced the arrests of three individuals in connection with the killing. Sherman Antonio Green Jr. and Roosevelt Durham Jr. were taken into custody and charged with murder. Green's wife, Porchia Nicole Green, was also arrested and faced charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Investigators reported finding drugs, scales, and a gun at the scene of the crime. The arrests brought a swift, albeit somber, development to a case that had already caused significant public discussion due to its intersection with reality television.
