Officer Robert Louis Johnson, Jr., Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia

Officer Robert Louis Johnson, Jr.

Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia

End of Watch Sunday, April 27, 1997

Add to My Heroes

Robert Louis Johnson, Jr.

Officer Robert Johnson was shot and killed, and another officer was shot and wounded at approximately 10:30 pm as a result of a parking problem.

They had just gotten off duty and became involved in the altercation near the intersection of Benning Road and 43rd Road, NE. The suspect told them he would be back to settle it after both officers identified themselves. When he returned, he unexpectedly opened fire on them. Officer Johnson was taken to DC General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next day.

He was the third Metropolitan police officer killed in two months and the second killed within one block of a police station. Both suspects in his murder were convicted of first-degree murder on May 22nd, 1998. The shooter was sentenced to 51 years to life in prison, and his accomplice was sentenced to 46 years to life.

Officer Johnson had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for seven years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Bio

Age 31
Tour 7 years
Badge 809

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Incident Date Saturday, April 26, 1997
Weapon Handgun
Offender Sentenced 51 years to life

ambush, retaliation

LODD Mapping FAQs

Most Recent Reflection

View all 25 Reflections

I remember this day so well, sadly. I had just spoke to him no more then a minute before this happened. I pulled away from where he was along with the later to be Captain, who was also wounded in this tragedy. I was 2 blocks away at the corner of Benning Rd & Minnesota Ave, when I heard gunshots and the yelling on the radio...the description of the vehicle. A vehicle sped by me as I was at the light driving on the wrong side of the road and turned south onto Minn Ave. NE. During this pursuit it was so difficult, naturally, to get on the air due to the calls for medical assistance... it didn't sound good at the scene as I pursued this vehicle. Luckily as I passed the McDonalds an off-duty saw me and joined in his POV to assist. When the pursuit ended with the vehicle pulling over and complying about a mile later, it ended up being eyewitnesses (who did not want to cooperate) to the shooting and not the suspect. By this time the radio traffic wasn't sounding good for Roberts condition.
Then the manhunt was on for seemed like days and days... we all worked on days off and so many extra hours from all the 7 districts to find the suspect. Showing me to this day how much MPD was a family...even from outside 6D and even outside MPD itself.
Robert's family,6D, MPD, the community lost a great man this day and I still tear up remembering all this. As so many mentioned... Robert's laugh was unforgettable... and his love of the Cowboys.
To me I remember his smile the most...it was genuine.
God bless you Robert, and keep smiling down on us all.

MPO Olszewski
Retired MPD 6th District

May 11, 2021