Bennie Johnson, a 29-year-old African American man from Rockford, Illinois, was shot to death on December 20, 2020, around 1:05 p.m. in the parking lot behind 1021 Broadway. A roommate testified that Johnson ran down exterior stairs after taking out the trash and was followed by 16-year-old Antwain Storey of Chicago, who then shot him and fled in a vehicle. The vehicle was later found with Johnson’s blood on the exterior and was registered to Storey’s mother.

Storey was arrested on May 14, 2021, and charged with first-degree murder by the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s office. At trial the roommate’s testimony was presented to a jury, which found Storey guilty of first-degree murder on May 22, 2024. Because Storey was a juvenile at the time of the killing, his statutory maximum sentence was capped at 40 years; he was ultimately sentenced to 30 years for Johnson’s murder.

Who knew Bennie Johnson or was in the area at 1021 Broadway on December 20, 2020?