On the evening of June 7, 2022, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet near 987 North Main Street in Brockton, Massachusetts. When the chaos subsided, 25-year-old Nerilson Lopes, a Hispanic male, was found lying in a parking lot with a gunshot wound to his chest. First responders rushed him to Good Samaritan Hospital, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
Another man was also wounded in the incident but survived his non-life-threatening injuries.
Born in Fogo, Cabo Verde, Nerilson Lopes was a resident of Brockton. His sudden and violent death prompted an immediate and intensive investigation by both the Brockton Police and the Massachusetts State Police. Their collaborative efforts quickly pointed to a suspect.
Within days, the investigation led to the arrest of 20-year-old Donya Johnson, also a resident of Brockton. On June 10, 2022, Johnson appeared at Brockton District Court and was taken into custody without incident. He was subsequently arraigned on multiple charges, including murder, carrying a firearm without a license, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling. At his arraignment, Johnson pleaded not guilty to his alleged role in the shooting that ended Nerilson Lopes's life. The case against him is being prosecuted by the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office, with the investigation remaining ongoing.
