In the small city of Carrollton, Georgia, a story of dedication and tragic consequence unfolded over three decades, culminating in the death of former police officer James M. 'Jimmy' Johnson. A male resident of Carrollton, Johnson was 55 years old when he passed away on May 26, 2010. His death, however, was the final chapter of a painful journey that began nearly 30 years prior.
On a November day in 1980, Officer Johnson, who had served with the Carrollton Police Department for just
under four years, was involved in a fateful encounter. He and two other officers were questioning an armed man who had come to town with a large sum of cash, reportedly for a drug transaction. A struggle ensued, during which the suspect took Officer Johnson hostage. In the ensuing confrontation, the suspect shot Johnson in the back with a. 38 caliber revolver, inflicting a severe and life-altering wound. The other officers on the scene managed to shoot and wound the suspect, who was then taken into custody.
The single gunshot left Johnson partially paralyzed. Despite months of arduous rehabilitation and his determination to walk again, the persistent and extreme pain from his injury forced him to leave the police force in August of 1983. For his bravery, he was awarded the department's two highest honors: the Medal of Valor and the Purple Heart.
Almost thirty years after the violent encounter, the devastating effects of the gunshot wound ultimately claimed his life. The county coroner officially ruled his death a homicide, a direct result of the injuries sustained in the line of duty decades earlier.
