Willie James Johnson, Jr., a 48-year-old resident of Beaumont Avenue in Kannapolis, North Carolina, tragically lost his life on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The incident occurred at his residence, where emergency medical services and police responded to a call about an unresponsive patient around 3:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered Johnson suffering from gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Johnson, born on May 19, 1975, in Cabarrus County, was a 1993 graduate of A.L. Brown High School and owned a dump truck company. He is survived by his son Andrew Johnson of Concord, NC, daughter Alexis Johnson of Salisbury, NC, two grandchildren, Ashton and Emilio Johnson, as well as his parents, siblings, and extended family.
The Kannapolis Police Department immediately launched an investigation into Johnson's death, which was quickly labeled as a homicide. In the days following the incident, law enforcement made significant progress in the case. On June 9, 2023, police announced that they had charged Derick De-Arlo Hinson Sr., also 48 years old and from Kannapolis, with first-degree murder in connection with Johnson's death.
Hinson was not immediately apprehended in Kannapolis. Instead, he was located and taken into custody by sheriff's deputies in Lancaster, South Carolina. Following his arrest, authorities began the process of extraditing Hinson back to North Carolina to face the murder charge.
The community was deeply affected by this act of gun violence, with Johnson's death being memorialized on the National Gun Violence Memorial website. Local news outlets covered the story extensively, highlighting the ongoing issue of gun-related incidents in the area.
As the investigation continued, police urged anyone with information about the case to come forward and contact the Kannapolis Police Department. The authorities remained committed to uncovering all details surrounding the tragic death of Willie James Johnson, Jr., and bringing justice to his family and loved ones.
