In the small city of Dawson, Georgia, the life of a young man, known for his love of fashion and a bright smile, was brought to an abrupt and tragic end. Austin Cordell Johnson, a 25-year-old father and a 2016 graduate of Terrell Middle High School where he had been a standout football player, was shot and killed on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Remembered by friends and family by his nickname 'Audemar Piguet,' a nod to his appreciation for his appearance, including his clothes, jewelry, and cologne, Johnson was carving out a life for himself as a traveling electrical apprentice in the solar construction industry.
The day his life was cut short, officers from the Dawson Police Department responded to a call at 559 Forrester Drive, SE. At the scene, they discovered Johnson, who had sustained at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the location, leaving a community to grapple with the sudden loss of a man described as having a beautiful singing voice and a compassionate heart. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called in to lead the homicide investigation, a standard procedure for such serious crimes in the area. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed by the GBI Medical Examiner's Office in Macon to formally determine the cause of death.
The investigation into Johnson's death quickly led to a suspect. The following day, on Monday, April 17, 2023, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of 22-year-old De'travion Simmons, also of Dawson. Simmons was taken into custody and charged with felony murder and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting of Austin Johnson. Following his arrest, Simmons was transported to the Terrell County Jail, where he was held.
While an arrest has been made, the circumstances that led to the fatal shooting of Austin Johnson have not been publicly detailed by law enforcement. Information regarding a possible motive, or the relationship between Johnson and Simmons, has not been released. The legal proceedings against De'travion Simmons are ongoing, and as the case moves through the justice system, a community awaits answers and the final chapter in a story that ended far too soon for a young man with a promising future.
