Jerome Johnson was a 66-year-old Atlanta man known to family as Uncle J, described as outgoing and giving. He lived in a rooming house in the 400 block of Bolton Road NW and shared a close daily phone routine with his great-uncle Clinton Johnson, who called each morning. His daughter, Takela Glover, said he was her backbone.

On the morning of Saturday, November 9, 2024, police were called to the rooming house about 9:30 a.m. and found Johnson and his friend, 61-year-old Leonard Bridges, with fatal gunshot wounds. Johnson’s daughter said her father was in the dining room and was shot multiple times while Bridges was at the door; both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the two were shot during an argument with a person who had been invited into the home.

Police identified 52-year-old Leatories Carter as the suspected shooter; he returned to the scene later that day, was taken to police headquarters for questioning and was arrested. The next morning Carter was charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and the case is proceeding through the court system. A celebration of life organized by Glover included a plea for peace and a reminder that the gun is not the answer.

If anyone knew Jerome, Leonard, or has information about what happened that morning, please share what is known.