On February 6, 2024, at about 3:10 p.m., San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of gunfire and a man lying in the street in the 9700 block of Cactus Street in Lakeside, California. Deputies found 26-year-old Michael Anthony Johnson with a gunshot wound; they provided aid until paramedics arrived, but Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:25 p.m.

The next day, February 7, 2024, investigators arrested 26-year-old Anthony Jose Gonzales on suspicion of murder and booked him into the San Diego Central Jail. Authorities have not disclosed a motive or described the relationship, if any, between Johnson and Gonzales. The investigation remains ongoing.

Community members described Johnson as a man of tremendous heart who left an indelible mark on those who knew him. Does anyone in the Lakeside area have information about Johnson, Gonzales, or the events on Cactus Street that afternoon?