In the summer of 2023, the life of Shayna Johnson, a 43-year-old Black / African American woman, was tragically cut short in Denver, Colorado. On August 2, 2023, in the 3100 block of West Ohio Avenue, Johnson was fatally shot while in the driver's seat of her SUV. When police arrived at the scene of the crashed vehicle, they found Donte Ellis, a man Johnson had been helping with necessities like food and housing, standing in the road with a handgun.
Johnson was a beloved and dedicated
employee of Denver Public Schools for over two decades, working as a special education paraprofessional and a restorative practice coordinator at Castro Elementary School. She was a mother of two children, aged 20 and 16 at the time of her death, and a cherished friend to many. Her family described her as a patient, humble, and strong individual who was passionately committed to her students.
Donte Ellis, 37, was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with first-degree murder. The motive for the senseless act of violence against a woman who had extended him kindness and support remains a painful question for those who knew her. The tragic irony of her death at the hands of someone she was trying to help was not lost on the community that mourned her.
In February 2025, a Denver jury found Donte Ellis guilty of first-degree murder. Following the conviction, he was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The verdict brought a measure of closure to Shayna Johnson's grieving family and friends, though the profound loss of a woman who dedicated her life to helping others continues to be deeply felt.
