On October 18, 2021, 30-year-old DeAndre Anthony Johnson, a Black male from Washington, D.C., was fatally shot by a police officer in a Southeast Washington apartment. The events leading to his death began when officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the residence to serve a temporary protection order against Johnson. A woman who had previously reported that Johnson had threatened her with a gun was present in the apartment with several children.
Upon their arrival,
the officers decided to arrest Johnson on charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon related to the prior incident. A struggle ensued as they attempted to take him into custody. During the altercation, one of the officer's body-worn cameras was deactivated for approximately 15 seconds. According to the police chief, Johnson allegedly tried to grab an officer's holstered firearm. This action reportedly prompted another officer to fatally shoot Johnson twice in the back. The entire encounter, from the officers' entry to the fatal shooting, lasted less than a minute. Johnson died at the scene.
Following the shooting, the Metropolitan Police Department released portions of the body camera footage to the public. The footage shows the officers entering the apartment and the subsequent struggle with Johnson. The officers involved in the shooting were placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure in such cases. The United States Attorney's Office initiated an independent criminal investigation into the shooting, and the police department began its own internal administrative investigation. No arrests were made in connection with DeAndre Anthony Johnson's death. His family, along with members of Black Lives Matter D.C., held a vigil calling for justice and answers regarding the circumstances of his death.
