Melvin C. Johnson Jr., aged 39, tragically lost his life on December 27, 2016, in Oakland, California. Johnson, who had previously endured the devastating loss of his son and grandson to gun violence in 2013, became a victim of the same fate. On that fateful day, Johnson was driving on 89th Avenue in East Oakland when he was fatally shot. Despite his injuries, he managed to drive to the 8500 block of MacArthur Boulevard, where he crashed into parked cars near Castlemont High School.
Oakland police, alerted by the ShotSpotter system, arrived at the scene and administered CPR, but Johnson later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
The motive behind Johnson's killing remains unclear, and no arrests have been made in connection with his death. This incident occurred near a street memorial dedicated to his son, Andrew "Drew" Thomas, and his grandson, Drew Leon Deon Jackson, who were fatally shot in August 2013 while they slept at an East Oakland home. Johnson had moved his son to Fresno to escape Oakland's street violence, but they were in Oakland for a birthday party when the tragedy struck. The murders of Thomas and his son remain unsolved, with a reward of up to $30,000 still available for information leading to the arrest of their killer.
Johnson's death added to the series of tragedies that had befallen his family. His mother, Carolyn Smith, described him as a loving and helpful person who was deeply committed to his family. Johnson's business, Drewski Designs, was known for creating T-shirts and clothing for various events, and he was well-regarded in the community. The family was still mourning the loss of Johnson's 8-year-old son, Jahmel T. Johnson, who had died in November 2016 after battling lymphoma. The compounded grief from these losses has been profoundly challenging for the family.
Despite the ongoing investigation, no significant leads have emerged, and the case remains open. The community and Johnson's family continue to seek justice for his untimely death, hoping that someone will come forward with information that could help solve the case. The lack of arrests and clear motives in both Johnson's and his family's previous murders highlights the persistent issue of gun violence in Oakland and the challenges law enforcement faces in solving such cases.
