DeAndre Johnson

Date: 10/18/2021        Location: Washington D.C.               FACTORS (1,2,12,14,19)     

Name: DeAndre Johnson                              

Criminal History/Involved: Yes, Johnson “had a pending domestic assault case from 2020” and had committed assault with a  dangerous weapon earlier in the week. / Yes, Johnson was being arrested for a violent domestic assault that occurred just days earlier when he put a gun to his girlfriend’s head.           

Mental Illness: None stated.

Substance Abuse History/Involved: Unknown. / None stated.

Race/Sex/Age: Black/Male/30

Officer(s) involved: Seven District of Columbia Police Officers                                                    

What prompted the initial contact with police? At around 4:30 p.m. on October 18, 2021, D.C. police officers responded to the apartment of DeAndre Johnson to serve him with a temporary restraining order as well as to arrest him for a recent domestic assault.

Actions taken by subject towards police: When an officer attempted to put handcuffs on Johnson he resisted, fought with the officers and grabbed one of their holstered duty guns.

Reactions by the police: Upon hearing one of the officers yell, “He’s got my…”, an officer shot Johnson twice in the back, killing him.

Outcome of investigation into the fatal police incident: The U.S. Attorney’s Office is investigating.

What could the subject have done that day to still be alive today? Johnson could still be alive had he: not committed a prior domestic assault prompting his girlfriend to file a restraining order and the police to arrest him; complied with the police; not resisted arrest; not grabbed an officer’s duty weapon.

Justified Use of Deadly Force? YES, when Johnson grabbed one of the officer’s guns the other officers had reasonable cause to believe their lives were in jeopardy and justifiably used deadly force.