On a tragic day in Manchester, Tennessee, 28-year-old Darcey Johnson lost his life in a brutal and random act of violence. On September 13, 2020, Johnson was a passenger in a vehicle when Dangelo Dorsey, 29, opened fire inside the car, killing him and injuring another person. This was just the beginning of a violent crime spree that would leave another man dead and three others wounded.
The chaos unfolded on the interstate as traffic came to a standstill.
After shooting Johnson, Dorsey exited the vehicle and attempted to carjack another car, shooting the driver in the hand. He then shot a nearby truck driver in the face. The terrifying sequence of events continued as Dorsey carjacked a third vehicle, taking a man and his pregnant wife hostage. He forced them to drive to their home where he stole two firearms before swapping vehicles and forcing the couple to accompany him.
A short time later, Dorsey pulled over into a wooded area and tragically shot and killed the husband, 23-year-old Phillip Stevens, in front of his pregnant wife. Dorsey then fled the scene with the pregnant woman still in the car. Law enforcement spotted the vehicle and a chase ensued. The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed and flipped. As officers approached, Dorsey took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The pregnant woman was rescued from the vehicle, physically unharmed but undoubtedly traumatized by the horrific ordeal.
Darcey Johnson was remembered as a loving father to a son and daughter. His obituary notes that he was survived by his parents, Gussie Washington and Lebaron Lee Johnson, as well as several siblings and a large extended family. The tragic and senseless violence that claimed his life also left an indelible mark on the Manchester community.
