In a heartbreaking turn of events, 24-year-old Raven Richmond, a pregnant woman from the St. Louis area, was found dead in a Ferguson home on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Her life was cut short by gunshot wounds to her forehead and stomach, a grim discovery made by police after a startling confession.
The day after the shooting, Richmond's 39-year-old boyfriend, Brandon Johnson, walked into the St. Louis County Police Department and admitted to killing her.
His confession prompted Ferguson police to conduct a welfare check at a residence on Windward Court, where they found Richmond's body. According to Richmond's sister, she had recently told Johnson that she was pregnant.
Following his confession, Johnson was charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and three counts of tampering with physical evidence. Authorities reported that he admitted to disposing of his cell phone, a gun, and a knife connected to the killing. At the time of the incident, Johnson had recently been released from probation for felony resisting arrest and had prior convictions for assault on law enforcement. He was subsequently held without bond at the St. Louis County Justice Center.
Raven Richmond was remembered by her family as a nurturing and motherly individual who loved books and worked as a librarian. Her family, devastated by the loss, learned of her death through a news article on Facebook. In her memory, they have launched the Raven Richmond Foundation to support young mothers impacted by domestic and gun violence, promote literacy, and help children in foster care.
