On the evening of September 10, 2018, Wilfred Will Johnson, a 43-year-old Black male, was walking home after his shift as a SEPTA bus driver, a job he had been dedicated to for a decade. As he reached the front steps of his residence on the unit block of North Millick Street in Philadelphia, an unknown individual followed him and opened fire. The attack occurred at approximately 8:46 p.m., shattering the evening's quiet with the sound of multiple gunshots.
Philadelphia Police officers
responded to the scene to find Johnson suffering from numerous gunshot wounds. They rushed him to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead. Described by his mother, Priscilla Johnson, as a "kind, loving gentle giant" and "a mother's dream come true," his sudden and violent death was a profound shock to his family, friends, and coworkers at the Callowhill SEPTA depot. He was remembered as a hardworking family man who was loved by many.
In the years that have followed, Wilfred Johnson's murder remains unsolved, and his killer is still at large. His mother has spoken of the enduring pain and her search for answers, revealing that her son had been involved in an argument with an unidentified person at work about two weeks before he was killed. While it is uncertain if this altercation is connected to his death, it is a lingering question in the minds of his loved ones.
The Philadelphia Police Department continues to investigate the case, with a $20,000 reward offered for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his death. The Transport Workers Union Local 234 has also offered an additional $5,000. Despite the passage of time, Priscilla Johnson holds onto hope for justice for her son, a man taken from his family and community far too soon.
