On the night of January 4, 2011, violence erupted at a residence on Detroit's west side, claiming the life of a young man named Avery Johnson. The 21-year-old was at a home located in the 15200 block of St. Marys Street, near Fenkell Street, when he was fatally wounded. Law enforcement reports indicate the incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m., leaving Johnson dead at the scene.
The residence on St. Marys Street became the site of further tragedy just weeks later, suggesting a pattern of violence at that specific location. On January 26, 2011, another individual, 26-year-old Diarelle Duerson, was also killed at the same address. The proximity of the two homicides drew attention to the property, but details regarding the specific circumstances of Johnson’s death remained scarce in public records.
Despite the severity of the crime, the case appeared to go cold. Years after the incident, crime stoppers organizations continued to list the death of Avery Johnson as an unsolved homicide, seeking information from the public to identify those responsible. No arrests or suspects were immediately reported in connection with the shooting, and the investigation into the events of that January night remained open without a conviction.
