In June of 2019, a tragic sequence of events unfolded in Detroit, leading to the death of Diano Johnson. The incident began when Anthony Brock, a 28-year-old man from Detroit, reportedly connected with Johnson through Facebook. Their online interaction led to an in-person meeting, which took a dark turn.
Authorities allege that when Johnson and Brock met, Brock forced Johnson into the trunk of his own car.
With Johnson imprisoned in the trunk, Brock then drove to pick up his friend, 30-year-old Darnell Wilson. Together, the two men drove Johnson's car to the east side of the city.
On the east side of Detroit, Johnson was removed from the trunk and shot multiple times. His body was discovered two days later. The day after the shooting, prosecutors say Brock set Johnson's car on fire, sustaining burns to his own legs in the process.
Following an investigation, both Anthony Brock and Darnell Wilson were arrested and faced a multitude of serious charges. These included first-degree murder, carjacking, and unlawful imprisonment. Additionally, they were charged with being felons in possession of a firearm and multiple counts of felony firearm. The case was considered significant enough that a special prosecutor from the Fair Michigan Justice Project, an organization that focuses on crimes against the LGBTQ community, was assigned to handle the prosecution. This decision was made based on the belief that Johnson was targeted because he was a gay man.
