Johnathan Norman Jr., a 26-year-old Black man, was in a place he likely considered a safe haven—his childhood home—on the evening his life was taken. According to his family, he was visiting the Hillview Apartments in South Memphis on Friday, August 4, 2023, when the visit turned tragic.
Around 10 p.m., Memphis Police Department officers responded to a shooting on Hillview Drive. Inside one of the apartments, they found Johnathan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries the following day, Saturday, August 5.
The investigation into the homicide quickly gained momentum as witnesses came forward with information. One witness described seeing a man with dreadlocks and an orange shirt shoot Johnathan several times. Another witness told police that a man known by the nickname “Ratchet” had threatened Johnathan’s girlfriend just a short time before the shooting occurred. A third witness identified “Ratchet” as the gunman and gave investigators information on where he lived.
Based on these accounts, police focused their search on the man known as "Ratchet." All three witnesses were able to positively identify him from a photo lineup. Police arrested 29-year-old Willie Hopson in connection with the fatal shooting.
Willie Hopson was charged with first-degree murder for the death of Johnathan Norman Jr. As of the arrest in August 2023, the case is proceeding through the judicial system.
