Joseph Johnson was 37 and a devoted husband and father of four in Idaho Falls. A mechanic and the sole provider for his family, he was described by his wife Bree Johnson as an incredible father who did everything for his family.

In the early hours of February 8, 2021, a traffic stop for a broken taillight led to a police search. Officers believed passenger Tanner Shoesmith, 22, was possibly armed and fled on foot. Johnson discovered Shoesmith on his property, held him at gunpoint and announced to officers that he had the suspect. Officers later encountered Johnson in his backyard wearing a black shirt and holding a firearm. As Johnson turned and began to lower one hand from his gun, Officer Elias Aurelio Cerdas fired a single, fatal shot. Shoesmith was found shortly afterward, unarmed and hiding in a shed.

A grand jury indicted Officer Cerdas on felony involuntary manslaughter in August 2021; the lead detective concluded Cerdas had not given Johnson a reasonable amount of time to comply. The charge was dismissed in April 2022 in exchange for training and supervised patrol, and the Johnson family filed a federal wrongful death suit that was later settled in May 2023.

If anyone witnessed the events in that neighborhood the night of February 8, 2021, or has information about the shooting, please share what is known.