In the quiet Linden Hills neighborhood of Minneapolis, the life of Kesha L. Moore, a 43-year-old Black/African American woman, was tragically cut short on the evening of December 17, 2023. Moore, a mother, grandmother, and the executive director of a home and community-based service provider for seniors and people with disabilities, was found in her apartment with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
The events of that Sunday evening unfolded after police received a 911 call from Johnny
Leroy Brown, Moore's 50-year-old live-in partner. In his initial call, Brown claimed that he and his girlfriend had been fighting, she had pulled a gun, and it had accidentally discharged. He stated he believed she was dead and provided the address before hanging up. About 20 minutes later, Brown called 911 again, reiterating that the woman had been "shot down" and that he was ready to turn himself in. However, when he provided a location for his surrender, cell phone pings indicated he was elsewhere.
Upon arriving at the apartment in the 4200 block of S. Sheridan Avenue, officers found the door locked. They forced entry and discovered Moore's body; it appeared she had been moved after being shot, as evidenced by blood smeared on the floor. Investigators learned that Moore was the registered owner of a 9mm handgun, but the weapon was missing from the scene, as was her car. A family member of Moore's arrived and informed police that Brown had called them, confessing, "I f***** up, I killed your cousin. I turned myself in."
In the days that followed, Brown remained at large. He turned off his phone after the 911 calls and purchased a new one with a different number the next day. Investigators were able to track this new number, leading to his arrest during a traffic stop in Golden Valley. At the time of his apprehension, Brown was with a new girlfriend. In his statements to the police, Brown's story changed multiple times. He admitted to arguing with Moore over his infidelity and claimed she had pointed a gun at him. He alleged that he took the gun from her and, in a subsequent gesture, it accidentally discharged. However, investigators noted that the specific model of handgun required a trigger-pull force of over five pounds, casting doubt on his claim of an accidental bump.
Johnny Leroy Brown was charged with second-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. His criminal history, which included multiple assault convictions and orders for protection filed against him by other women, became a significant part of the case against him. The prosecution's case was strengthened by the testimony of five women who were survivors of Brown's past domestic abuse. In February 2025, a jury convicted Brown of first-degree murder while committing domestic abuse with a past pattern of domestic abuse, two counts of second-degree murder, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The following month, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
