Raheem Johnson

Raheem Johnson was a 30-year-old Black man from Philadelphia with a passion for the culinary arts and a dedication to his country. A sergeant in the U.S. Army, he served as a food service specialist and was known for his proficiency and ambition. Before enlisting, he had already built a seven-year career in the culinary field after earning his certification from Job Corps in Philadelphia. He worked for universities and local restaurants before deciding on a new path in the military, a choice he was happy with. "Right now the path that I’m on, I’m very happy," he said in an interview just months before his death. "I wouldn’t change anything." Sgt. Johnson was a new noncommissioned officer who had his sights set on a long career, with the ultimate goal of becoming sergeant major of the Army.

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, October 6, 2015, that future was cut short. At approximately 2:12 a.m., Philadelphia Police Officers responded to a call on the 500 block of East Chelten Avenue. There, they discovered Raheem inside a black 2006 Chevy Tahoe. He was in the driver's seat, suffering from a gunshot wound.

Emergency responders rushed Raheem to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he was admitted in critical condition. Doctors and medical staff worked to save his life, but after nearly two weeks of fighting his injury, Raheem died on Monday, October 19, 2015.

The investigation into Raheem Johnson's murder is ongoing. He resided on the 5859 block of Stockton Road at the time of his death. As of October 2015, no arrests had been made, and the case remains unsolved. The Philadelphia Police Department is asking for the public’s help and urges anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to contact them at 215-686-TIPS (8477).