In the late morning of a September day in 2017, the life of 57-year-old Johnnie Eugena Shoemaker Cannon was tragically cut short in Chatsworth, Georgia. Remembered by family as a kind-hearted and giving person who would give you the shirt off her back, Johnnie was at her brother's home on Highland Way off of Leonard Bridge Road when she was killed.
Having been married for over three decades, Johnnie and her husband, Oliver Scott Cannon, were living separately and reportedly experiencing
marital problems. The night before the fatal incident, Oliver had expressed his anger over his wife leaving him and had made threats to kill her. On the morning of September 25th, he took a gun from his daughter's home and drove to where Johnnie was staying. An argument ensued between the two, culminating in Oliver shooting his wife once in the chest. Johnnie was found on the ground in front of a basement door and was transported to Murray Medical Center, where she died from the single gunshot wound.
After the shooting, Oliver Scott Cannon fled to his own residence on Holly Creek Drive, leading to a nearly three-hour standoff with authorities, including the Georgia State Patrol's SWAT team. During the standoff, he admitted to shooting his wife. After hours of negotiation, law enforcement used tear gas to try and force him out of his trailer. A single gunshot was heard from inside, and Oliver then emerged onto his porch with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to a hospital in Chattanooga in critical condition and underwent extensive surgery.
Following his release from medical care, Oliver Scott Cannon was charged with the murder of his wife. He initially faced charges of two counts of murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. In January 2019, he pleaded guilty to one count of malice murder as part of a negotiated plea that was approved by Johnnie's family. Oliver Scott Cannon, then 58, was sentenced to life in prison and will be eligible for parole consideration after serving 30 years. More than 20 of Johnnie's family members were present for the plea hearing, with many filing victim impact statements to the court.
