A community is grieving and a family is shattered after a 43-year-old Wilmington, North Carolina man was shot and killed Sunday morning. According to the Wilmington Police Department, Johnny Jermaine Johnson, also known as Johnny J, was around the corner from his Dior’s Bar & Lounge when he was shot. Around 1:30 a.m., authorities arrived at the 0 block of Chesnut Street, where they found Johnson with a gunshot wound. Police rendered aid, but sadly he succumbed to his injuries before being transported to a local hospital.
Two suspects have already been taken into custody in connection to the murder. Both men have been charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
It hasn’t been an easy road for Johnny, who grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. Many don’t know he spent 17 years in prison for a wrongful conviction for his alleged role in a murder that occurred at the Farnam Courts public housing development in 1999. Johnson, along with 3 of his friends were all convicted of the crime. Johnny received a 75-year sentence.
But in 2013, justice was served and Johnson was released from prison. After filing a suit for being wrongfully convicted, he and each of his friends were awarded $4.2 million each. He took that as an opportunity to get his life back on track – and he did just that with his music/events company, 365 Entertainment.
Johnson is the father of 5 children.
