Joseph Johnson, a 37-year-old White man, was a devoted husband and the father of four young children in Idaho Falls, Idaho. His wife of 19 years, Bree Johnson, described him as an incredible father who was adored by everyone who knew him. A mechanic, he was the sole provider for his family and worked hard every day to support them. In his wife’s words, everything he did was for his family.
In the early hours of February 8, 2021, a police manhunt spilled into Johnson’s neighborhood.
Shortly after midnight, a Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputy had attempted a traffic stop for a broken taillight, but the passenger, 22-year-old Tanner Shoesmith, fled on foot. Police believed Shoesmith, who had several outstanding warrants, was possibly armed. An officer briefly spoke with Johnson, alerting him to the search. Johnson then discovered Shoesmith on his property and held him at gunpoint, backing him out of his home and yelling to officers, “he’s over here, I’ve got him.”
As officers surrounded the home, they heard the yelling and encountered Johnson in his backyard. He was wearing a black shirt, similar to the suspect’s clothing, and was holding a firearm. Officers commanded him to drop his weapon. As Johnson turned toward them and began to lower one hand from his gun, an Idaho Falls Police officer, Elias Aurelio Cerdas, fired a single, fatal shot. It was only after they tried to render aid that police realized they had shot the homeowner. The actual suspect, Tanner Shoesmith, was found shortly after, unarmed and hiding in a nearby shed.
Following an investigation, a grand jury indicted Officer Cerdas on a charge of felony involuntary manslaughter in August 2021. The lead detective from the Idaho State Police concluded that Cerdas had not given Johnson a reasonable amount of time to comply with his commands. The case went to trial in April 2022, but on the second day, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office reached an agreement with Cerdas. The manslaughter charge was dismissed in exchange for Cerdas completing 100 hours of use-of-force training and serving a year of supervised patrol.
In February 2023, Joseph Johnson’s family filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Idaho Falls, the police department, and Officer Cerdas. The suit alleged that Cerdas used excessive force and violated Johnson’s civil rights, and that the department failed to properly train its officer. The case concluded when the parties reached a settlement agreement in May 2023. A court filing indicated that the city and the Johnson family had agreed to resolve the lawsuit, bringing the legal proceedings to a close.
