In the late summer of 2015, the life of 19-year-old Lewis K. Woodson Jr., a Black / African American male from Quincy, Illinois, was tragically cut short in Davenport, Iowa. On September 2nd, Woodson arrived at a local hospital around 1:30 a.m., suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. The shooting was determined to have taken place near a convenience store in the 3100 block of Brady Street.
The investigation into Woodson's death quickly pointed to a violent confrontation rooted in gang
rivalry. Authorities identified Woodson as a member of a rival gang to the "Fifth Street" gang. Following detective work and ongoing surveillance, the Davenport Police Department arrested 18-year-old Juwan Johnson of Rock Island. Johnson was an associate of the Fifth Street gang and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and intimidation with a dangerous weapon in connection with Woodson's death.
Johnson's arrest was part of a broader crackdown on a recent string of shootings and gun violence in the Davenport area. The case against him was also connected to a larger federal investigation into the criminal activities of the Fifth Street gang. This extensive investigation led to a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations conspiracy case, resulting in the sentencing of nine members and associates of the gang for a pattern of violence that included murder, attempted murder, and drug trafficking. The shooting of Lewis Woodson Jr. was listed as one of the violent acts committed as part of this criminal enterprise.
