In the early hours of a cold January morning in Detroit, Michigan, a devastating discovery was made that would forever alter the lives of a local family. On January 20, 2020, police responded to what initially appeared to be a car crash on the city's east side, in the area of Barlow and Eastwood. The vehicle, a black 2006 Chevrolet Impala belonging to Allen Armstrong, had struck a fence. Inside and near the car, however, a much more grim reality awaited the first responders.
Allen Armstrong, a 31-year-old male, and his cousin, Demarco Armstrong, also 31, were found fatally shot. Both men, who were fathers, had sustained gunshot wounds to the head. One of the men was discovered inside the vehicle, while the other was found lying just outside the driver's side door.
Friends and family described the cousins as devoted fathers who were deeply loved. The incident sent shockwaves through their community, leaving many to wonder what could have led to such a violent end for the two men. In the days following the discovery, a potential motive began to surface. It was reported that an ex-girlfriend of one of the victims had allegedly made death threats on social media prior to the killings. A friend of the cousins indicated that Allen was aware of the threats and had been so concerned that he had saved screenshots of the menacing posts to his phone. While law enforcement officials did not immediately confirm a direct link between the social media posts and the murders, it was a significant lead in their ongoing investigation.
The investigation into the double homicide led authorities to a suspect. Oscar Johnson, a 24-year-old man from Harper Woods, was identified as the individual allegedly responsible for the deaths of Allen and Demarco Armstrong. U.S. Marshals apprehended Johnson in Lexington, Kentucky. Following his arrest, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office brought serious charges against him. Johnson was charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, three counts of felony firearm, and one count of a felon in possession of a firearm. At the time of the murders, Johnson was reportedly on probation for drug-related charges.
