In the late summer of 2020, the life of 28-year-old Anton M. Johnson, a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short in Anniston, Alabama. On the morning of August 16, 2020, an altercation near the intersection of 12th Street escalated to a fatal conclusion. It was there that Johnson was shot, and when officers from the Anniston Police Department arrived at the scene around 5:00 a.m., they found him deceased.
Subsequent investigations into the shooting led authorities to
identify 43-year-old Derrick Jerome Mathews as the individual who had been in a confrontation with Johnson. The dispute between the two men had reportedly intensified to the point of gunfire, resulting in Johnson sustaining a fatal wound. While the specific circumstances that led to the deadly altercation have not been publicly detailed, the investigation proceeded, leading to Mathews's apprehension.
Following the investigation, Derrick Jerome Mathews was arrested and formally charged with murder in connection with Anton M. Johnson's death. After being taken into custody, he was transported to the Calhoun County Jail to await bond proceedings.
In the days that followed his death, Johnson's family and friends mourned their loss. His funeral service was held on Wednesday, August 26, 2020, at the Anniston City Center, with interment at Eden Hills Cemetery. He was survived by his parents, several siblings, and his companion.
