In the winter of 2021, the life of 59-year-old Preston Brown Jr., a Black male, was tragically cut short in Aurora, Colorado. On the afternoon of January 22nd, Brown was found inside his vehicle with gunshot wounds near an auto body shop at the intersection of Beeler Street and East Colfax Avenue. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 12:30 p.m.
Known affectionately as 'Flip' to his friends and family, Brown was remembered as a protector with a big heart.
He had served in the military and worked in construction. His loved ones recalled his passion for bodybuilding, with Arnold Schwarzenegger as his idol, and his kind gestures, such as buying Easter baskets for children in the Five Points area. His sudden death left his family, including his sister and eldest son's mother, grappling with the senseless loss of a man who would have turned 60 that year.
The investigation into the homicide led Aurora police to 34-year-old Jerome Deshun Johnson. Johnson was arrested on February 12, 2021, and authorities recommended a charge of first-degree murder. Johnson had an extensive criminal record in the Denver and Aurora areas dating back to 2006, with multiple stints in prison and jail for various offenses, including possession and intent to sell drugs. Following his arrest for Brown's murder, he was detained at the Adams County jail without bond.
