On April 15, 2016, Thomas Johnson, a 48-year-old African American male from Germantown, Ohio, was fatally shot. The incident occurred at a Speedway gas station located at 2001 Shiloh Springs Road in Trotwood. After sustaining a gunshot wound to the right arm and chest area, Johnson was transported by private vehicle to the VA Medical Center on West Third Street in Dayton, where he was pronounced dead. The Montgomery County Coroner's Office ruled his death a homicide.
Surveillance footage from the VA Medical Center captured a four-door vehicle arriving and a man hastily exiting the car. This footage led investigators to identify and arrest three individuals later that day: Dshawn Lynch, 20; Joshua Wilson, 33; and Randle Lavert Jr., 23. Lynch was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, weapons under disability, intimidation of a crime witness, and trafficking of counterfeit controlled substances. Wilson faced charges of felony drug possession and a misdemeanor probation violation for unauthorized use of plates. Lavert was detained pending the filing of formal charges.
Thomas Johnson was a veteran who had been receiving treatment at the VA Medical Center for heart problems. His family described him as happy and relaxed, looking forward to a new phase in his life. He was planning to get married in June and move to Michigan to retire. His sudden death left his family seeking answers and justice.
As of May 2, 2016, Dshawn Lynch was indicted on multiple charges related to Johnson's death and was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1 million bond. The investigation into the incident continued, with authorities working to determine the motive behind the shooting.
