De'Andre Johnson

De’Andre Michael Johnson had just celebrated his 22nd birthday a week before his life was cut short. Born on March 16, 1989, De'Andre was a young Black man living in Cincinnati, Ohio. His life and future were taken from him on the evening of Wednesday, March 23, 2011, in a shooting that has remained unsolved for more than a decade.

The incident occurred in the city's Avondale neighborhood, a community with a deep history but one that has also contended with challenges related to crime. At an address identified by authorities as 624 Rockdale Avenue, De'Andre was shot. The specific circumstances leading up to the shooting, including the time of day and whether there were any witnesses, have not been released to the public. The motive behind the attack remains unknown. What is known is that the gunfire ended a young life full of potential.

The Cincinnati Police Department responded to the scene and launched a homicide investigation. Detectives worked the case, gathering evidence and seeking leads in the community. However, despite their initial efforts, no suspects were publicly identified, and no arrests were made. As time passed with no significant breakthroughs, the investigation into De'Andre's murder grew cold, leaving his family with unanswered questions and the unhealed wound of a violent loss.

In the days following his death, De'Andre's loved ones gathered to mourn him. A visitation was held on Friday, April 8, 2011, at the Walker Funeral Home on Hamilton Avenue in Cincinnati, offering friends and family a chance to say their final goodbyes. His date of death is recorded in his obituary as March 24, 2011, the day after the shooting. The pain of his absence became a permanent part of their lives, compounded by the lack of justice for his killing.

Years later, De'Andre Johnson's case is still officially open but inactive, one of many unsolved homicides on the books in Hamilton County. His file has been passed to cold case investigators in the hope that new technology, a fresh look at the evidence, or a witness finally coming forward might provide the break they need. The Ohio Attorney General's Office lists De'Andre's murder on its Unsolved Homicides database, a public plea for information that might help bring a resolution to the case. A poster with his picture serves as a quiet reminder of a life taken too soon and a killer who has never been held accountable.

As of today, the investigation into the murder of De'Andre Johnson remains at a standstill. No suspects have been named, and no arrests have been made. The Cincinnati Police Department and the Ohio Attorney General's office continue to ask for the public's help. They urge anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. For the family of De'Andre, the passage of time has not diminished their need for answers and for the justice he was denied on that tragic day in March 2011. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to submit a tip to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.