On the evening of December 30, 2024, Kody Tyler Johnston, a 25-year-old white male from Alameda, California, was fatally shot in Oakland while assisting a friend in recovering her stolen vehicle. The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. on the 4300 block of Fleming Avenue, where Oakland Police Department officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation and found Johnston suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
Investigations revealed that Johnston was helping his friend retrieve her stolen Lexus when the suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Juan Montiel, confronted them. Montiel allegedly ordered Johnston out of the vehicle and then shot him. Authorities linked Montiel to a broader car theft operation; a raid on January 31 uncovered a chop shop containing numerous stolen vehicles, weapons, body armor, and equipment used to impersonate law enforcement. Montiel was arrested and charged by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office for his role in Johnston's homicide.
Johnston's death deeply affected his community, with friends and family remembering him as a loyal and caring individual whose presence brought joy to those around him. A memorial service was held on January 11, 2025, at Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services in Alameda.
