Reserve Sergeant James Milton Johnson, aged 59, was a dedicated officer with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Department in Winston-Salem, NC. He tragically lost his life on November 11, 2004, after responding to a report of shots being fired. Johnson was shot and killed by an armed suspect in front of his home on Vance Road. The suspect had a long-standing disagreement with his neighbors over property boundaries and had returned to the property with a rifle.
The suspect had previously
murdered a couple in the neighborhood and then confronted Johnson and his 10-year-old grandson. Johnson managed to distract the killer, allowing his grandson to escape and notify his grandmother, who called the police. Johnson's son-in-law, who was a full-time deputy and off-duty at the time, responded to the scene and engaged in a shootout with the suspect. The suspect was eventually taken into custody and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted capital murder.
The suspect was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 2018. Johnson's actions were credited with preventing the suspect from harming the couple's 5-year-old son, who was in the home at the time of the shooting. Johnson had served with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Department for seven years and had previously served with the Kernersville Police Department for 28 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, two brothers, two sisters, and five grandchildren.
Johnson's death was a significant loss to his family, friends, and the community. He was remembered as a brave and dedicated officer who always had a larger-than-life personality and a knack for telling funny stories. His family continues to honor his memory and the sacrifices he made in the line of duty.
