In the early morning hours of June 7, 2019, the quiet of a Muncie, Indiana neighborhood was broken by the sound of two gunshots. It wasn't until around 6 a.m. that a passing motorist discovered the body of 25-year-old Deandre Johnson lying in the street at the intersection of Kirby Avenue and Brady Street. Police were immediately called to the scene and began investigating the death as a homicide. Johnson, a resident of another part of the city, was found on the southeast side, leaving investigators to question what brought him to that particular area.
Deandre Johnson was known to law enforcement, with a criminal history that included convictions for robbery, domestic battery, and possession of cocaine. At the time of his death, he had a pending charge for illegal possession of a firearm. Despite his past, his family remembered him as a good person who was actively trying to better his life. A father to one son with another child on the way, Johnson was reportedly working and making an effort to change his path. His brother, Scyllir Johnson, spoke of his brother's positive changes and the family's devastation.
In the immediate aftermath of the discovery of Johnson's body, friends and family gathered at the scene, their grief evident as they created a makeshift memorial with messages of love on the pavement where he was found. The Muncie Police Chief at the time expressed confidence that the case would be solved swiftly, suggesting that they believed Johnson knew his killer.
Despite the initial optimism from law enforcement, the investigation into Deandre Johnson's murder grew cold. In the years that have passed since his death, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made. The questions surrounding the circumstances of his death and who was responsible remain unanswered, leaving his family still searching for justice. His death is considered an unsolved homicide.
