In the late afternoon of January 28, 2017, events unfolded in a west Las Vegas valley neighborhood that would end in the death of 19-year-old Donavon Johnson, a young Black male. The situation began when a homeowner, away from his residence, noticed suspicious activity on his home surveillance system. He contacted a neighbor and asked him to investigate what was happening at his house.
This neighbor would soon come face-to-face with Johnson in a confrontation that turned deadly.
Earlier that day, Johnson, along with his sister and two other individuals, were reportedly seen on surveillance footage casing homes in the area. They are alleged to have burglarized a home, and stolen property was later found in a car associated with Johnson and on his person. When the neighbor went to check on the homeowner's property, he encountered Johnson. A physical altercation occurred between the two men, during which the neighbor's cell phone was taken. In the midst of this struggle, the neighbor, who was armed, fired his weapon multiple times.
Donavon Johnson was struck by the gunfire in his back. Despite his injuries, he managed to run for about 150 yards before he collapsed. He was transported to University Medical Center, where he ultimately succumbed to his wounds. An investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department determined that Johnson was unarmed at the time of the shooting. His family described him as a recent high school graduate with plans to attend college. They held a vigil where his mother expressed her grief, stating that while her son may have made mistakes, his death did not have to happen in such a violent manner.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the neighbor who fired the fatal shots was not arrested. The Las Vegas police and the Clark County District Attorney's Office reviewed the evidence and deemed the shooter's actions to be reasonable under the circumstances. Authorities highlighted that the man was cooperative, remained at the scene, and provided a statement to investigators. While the shooter faced no charges, Donavon Johnson's sister was arrested in connection with the burglary that preceded the deadly confrontation. Johnson himself had a recent criminal history, having pleaded guilty to burglary and other felony charges just weeks before his death.
