In the heart of Memphis, a life was abruptly cut short on a winter afternoon. Derrick Johnson, a 27-year-old male, was at a Discount Muffler & Brakes in the 2500 block of Lamar Avenue on January 9, 2021. It was around 1:00 p.m. when the ordinary day turned tragic. A man, cloaked entirely in red, entered the lobby of the auto shop and opened fire, shooting Johnson multiple times.
The assailant then fled the scene, reportedly running south down Callis Street.
Emergency services were called to the scene, but Johnson's injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead. The brazen nature of the daytime shooting left the community in shock and searching for answers. The Memphis Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide, but the identity of the shooter remained elusive.
In the months that followed, the investigation continued, but no arrests were made. In an effort to generate new leads, the Memphis Police Department released surveillance photos of the suspect in September 2021. The images captured the individual dressed in red who was believed to be responsible for Johnson's death. Despite this public appeal for information, the case has remained unsolved. Authorities have continued to ask for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers, but as of now, no one has been publicly identified or charged in the murder of Derrick Johnson, and the motive for the shooting remains unclear.
