Dakota Lee Johnson was 17 when he was fatally shot after a car crash on May 18, 2023, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The shooting happened around midnight in the 2300 block of Indian Creek Drive. After being shot, Johnson drove about a mile and collided with a parked car near the EZ Pass convenience store on Sapona Road. He was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office identified multiple suspects in the investigation. Court records show that Christian Jared Ashworth, 23, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and conspiracy; records allege Ashworth conspired with others and that a handgun and Johnson’s cell phone were stolen. Authorities say the probe remains active and continue to seek information about additional suspects and the circumstances of the incident.

If anyone has information about Dakota’s death or the people involved, please contact the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.