A festive Cinco de Mayo celebration in Statesboro, Georgia, turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy on the evening of May 5, 2026, when gunfire erupted, claiming the life of 39-year-old Gregory Johnson. The incident occurred at a large outdoor gathering at the Azul restaurant on South Main Street, where a heated argument between two men escalated into deadly violence.
Witnesses described a packed and celebratory atmosphere that was shattered by the sound of gunshots, sending people running for their lives. Johnson was shot and critically injured, and was rushed to East Georgia Regional Medical Center by Bulloch County EMS, where he later succumbed to his wounds.
The Statesboro Police Department quickly launched a homicide investigation into the death of Gregory Johnson, a resident of Statesboro with connections to Claxton and Florida. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, a woman who was with Johnson was also struck by gunfire, and a pedestrian fleeing the chaotic scene was hit by a vehicle and sustained serious injuries. As investigators processed the crime scene and interviewed witnesses, they began to piece together the events that led to the fatal encounter. The owners of Azul restaurant expressed their condolences to the victim's family and stated they had hired private security for the event and were cooperating fully with the police investigation.
Within days of the shooting, detectives identified a suspect in the murder of Gregory Johnson. Warrants were issued for the arrest of 21-year-old Andrew White of Statesboro, who is charged with murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. Believing that White had fled the area, the Statesboro Police Department enlisted the help of the United States Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend him. Authorities have cautioned the public that White should be considered armed and dangerous and have urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately. The case remains an active homicide investigation as the search for Andrew White continues.
