In the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama, a life was cut short on the afternoon of April 16, 2020. Gregory Johnson, a 50-year-old Black man, died following a physical altercation at a local business. The events that led to his death began inside Marino's Grocery Store, located at 2415 Avenue E.
According to Birmingham Police, Johnson was causing a disturbance within the store, which prompted a security guard to intervene and escort him out.
After leaving for a brief period, Johnson returned to the property. It was upon his return that a physical confrontation ensued between him and the same security guard.
During the struggle, Johnson was rendered unconscious. When officers from the Birmingham Police Department arrived at the scene around 4 p.m., they found him on the ground and detained in handcuffs by the security guard. Emergency services transported Johnson to Princeton Hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead by medical staff.
Homicide investigators with the Birmingham Police Department looked into the circumstances surrounding Johnson's death. After gathering information, they presented their findings to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office for review. Following an assessment of the case, the district attorney's office determined that the actions of the security guard were justified as an act of defense. Consequently, no arrests were made, and no charges were filed in connection with the death of Gregory Johnson.
