Zach Johnson, a 24-year-old tow truck driver from Callisburg, Texas, was tragically killed on December 2, 2019, in Lake Dallas, TX. Johnson, who had only been in the repossession business for three weeks, was shot and killed by Barry DeGeorge, the owner of the vehicle he was attempting to repossess. Johnson was known by many as a "gentle giant" and was dedicated to his work, family, and community.
On the night of his death, Johnson was following a repossession order to pick up a car at
the Best Western in Lake Dallas. DeGeorge, who was staying at the hotel, fired multiple shots from his third-story hotel room window, believing his car was being stolen. Johnson was hit while driving his tow truck and ran into a few parked cars before succumbing to his injuries. Despite efforts to save him, Johnson was pronounced dead at Medical City Denton.
Lake Dallas police arrested DeGeorge at the scene and charged him with murder. DeGeorge, who had a history of assault and evading arrest, was held in the Denton County Jail on a $500,000 bond. The repossession notice was confirmed to be valid, and DeGeorge claimed he thought Johnson was stealing his car.
The tragic incident led to an outpouring of grief from Johnson's family, friends, and colleagues. A last-ride funeral procession was held in his honor, with hundreds of tow trucks participating to pay tribute to the young man. Johnson's death also prompted his employer, Joe Baker, to consider shutting down his towing business due to the emotional toll of the incident.
The case against DeGeorge moved forward, with the community closely following the developments. The loss of Zach Johnson was deeply felt by all who knew him, and his memory continues to be honored by those who knew him.
