Alfred Johnson

On a Thursday afternoon in the Bronx, an argument escalated into a fatal shooting that took the life of Alfred Johnson, a 42-year-old Black man. The incident occurred on October 7, 2021, at the intersection of River Avenue and East 151st Street in the Melrose neighborhood. According to police, Mr. Johnson was involved in an argument with another man and allegedly attempted to stab him. Two other men then confronted Mr. Johnson, and one of them shot him once in the chest at approximately 2:25 p.m.

Police officers from the 44th Precinct responded to a 911 call and found Mr. Johnson with a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services rushed him to Lincoln Hospital, but he could not be saved and was pronounced deceased. Mr. Johnson was a resident of Seward Avenue in the Bronx.

The investigation into the shooting led to an arrest nearly a month later. On November 4, 2021, authorities took 21-year-old Destin Black of Queens into custody. Police stated that surveillance video helped them identify Black as the alleged triggerman. He was subsequently charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a loaded firearm. His accomplice remained at large.

Several months later, investigators made a second arrest in the case. Following an anonymous tip, the NYPD’s Fugitive Task Force located and arrested 23-year-old Terrell Watts, also of Queens, on February 18, 2022. Police identified Watts as the second man who had confronted Mr. Johnson. He faced the same charges as his alleged accomplice: murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a loaded firearm.

As of the last public update in February 2022, both Destin Black and Terrell Watts had been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Alfred Johnson. At that time, Black remained incarcerated as the cases against both men proceeded through the legal system.