On a spring day in Phoenix, Arizona, the life of Officer David Lee 'Star' Johnson was cut short in a tragic confrontation. It was May 2, 1944, and Officer Johnson, an African-American man, was on his foot patrol in downtown Phoenix with his partner, Officer Joe Davis. The city, with a population of around 65,000 at the time, was a place where racial tensions simmered beneath the surface.
During their patrol, Officer Johnson witnessed a vehicle run a stop sign.
As he approached the driver to issue a ticket, his partner stepped into a nearby drugstore. The driver of the vehicle was an off-duty Phoenix Police detective named Lance Frenchie Navar. An argument erupted between the two officers. In a sudden act of violence, Navar drew his revolver and shot Officer Johnson multiple times in the torso and back. Wounded, Johnson staggered into a nearby business and collapsed. He was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
Navar was arrested and tried for the murder of Officer Johnson. During the trial, Navar's defense was that Officer Johnson had insulted him. In the racially charged atmosphere of 1944, this claim was enough to result in an acquittal. Following the verdict, Navar was reinstated as a detective with the Phoenix Police Department.
The injustice of the situation deeply affected Officer Johnson's partner, Joe Davis. On October 4, 1944, just months after Johnson's death, Davis confronted Navar in the hallway of the police headquarters and shot him. Navar died from his wounds. Davis turned himself in and was subsequently charged. He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to prison. He was paroled in May of 1947.
For nearly 80 years, Officer David Lee 'Star' Johnson's death was not officially recognized as a line-of-duty death by the Phoenix Police Department. However, recent efforts have brought his story to light, and he has been honored for his sacrifice. In May 2024, Johnson was recognized by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
