On March 2, 2023, at approximately 10 p.m., officers from the Palestine Police Department responded to a reported shooting at a residence in the 200 block of Joe Louis Street in Palestine, Texas. Upon arrival, they discovered 30-year-old Brittany Johnson with a gunshot wound to her torso. Emergency medical services transported her to Palestine Regional Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.
During the investigation, detectives identified Johnson's ex-boyfriend, 50-year-old Joseph Christopher Cole of Houston, as the primary suspect. An arrest warrant for murder was issued by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Gary Thomas. Authorities revealed that Cole had a history of violence against Johnson. In October 2020, he strangled and assaulted her while she was 16 weeks pregnant, leading to an emergency protective order against him. Cole later pleaded guilty to assault family violence, impeding breath, and assault of a pregnant person, receiving deferred adjudication with conditions including attending a Battering Intervention and Prevention Program and a prohibition on possessing firearms.
Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, Cole's whereabouts remained unknown for several months. On May 22, 2023, U.S. Marshals arrested Cole in Harris County, Texas. He was subsequently extradited to Palestine to face prosecution for the murder of Brittany Johnson. If convicted, Cole could face a sentence ranging from five to 99 years in prison.
Brittany Johnson is survived by her children. Her death highlights the severe consequences of domestic violence and underscores the importance of protective measures and interventions for individuals in abusive relationships.
