A routine drive home turned deadly for 53-year-old Edward Johnson Jr., a Black man from north St. Louis County. On the morning of January 23, 2026, Johnson was driving with his 16-year-old daughter near West Florissant Avenue and Canfield Drive when he honked at two pedestrians blocking the road. As he drove past, both individuals displayed firearms and one opened fire. Johnson was struck, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a residence at Ellison and Canfield drives. He was taken to a hospital and died shortly after arrival; his daughter was physically unharmed but witnessed the shooting and was comforted by bystanders at the scene.

Investigators traced the incident to a nearby apartment complex after taking witness statements, including the clothing description given by Johnson’s daughter. Police executed a search warrant and recovered clothing matching that description and a 9mm handgun believed to be the murder weapon. Authorities arrested 26-year-old Deandre U. Spruill Jr. of Ferguson; police say he admitted to the shooting and charged him with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. The identity of the second pedestrian who was with Spruill at the time remains under investigation.

If anyone witnessed the shooting, saw the two pedestrians near West Florissant and Canfield that morning, or has information about the second person involved, please share what is known.