On a Tuesday night just before the Thanksgiving holiday, the life of Michael Martez Johnson, a 32-year-old Black man, was brought to a violent and sudden end in Birmingham, Alabama. Remembered by loved ones with affection, and known to some as "3 Mike," Michael's future was stolen in an ambush that remains a painful, unsolved mystery for his family and community.
The night of November 23, 2021, found Michael sitting in his vehicle in the 200 block of 3rd Avenue Southwest. At approximately 10:30 p.m., the relative quiet of the evening was shattered. According to Birmingham Police, an unknown individual approached the car on foot and, without any warning, opened fire. The barrage of bullets struck Michael and a female passenger who was with him in the vehicle. The assailant then fled the scene, disappearing into the night and leaving behind a scene of devastation.
When first responders arrived, they found Michael with catastrophic injuries. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The female passenger was gravely wounded and rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, her life forever altered by the sudden eruption of violence. The attack was swift, brutal, and left a community searching for answers that have not come.
The Birmingham Police Department’s homicide detectives immediately launched an investigation into the deadly shooting. They processed the scene for evidence and appealed to the public for any witnesses to come forward. Investigators sought to piece together the moments leading up to the attack, hoping to uncover a motive and identify the person responsible for pulling the trigger. However, the case has been met with silence. In the years since Michael's murder, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made.
The lack of resolution has left Michael’s loved ones in a state of prolonged grief. Comments left on a memorial page capture the deep sense of loss, with one person writing, "We Missing You like Crazy," and another adding, "Luv Ya Forever." These brief but heartfelt tributes paint a picture of a man who was loved and whose absence created a void that cannot be filled. His death was one of many that contributed to a tragically violent year in Birmingham, a city grappling with a high number of homicides.
The investigation into the murder of Michael Martez Johnson is ongoing, though it is considered a cold case. Detectives continue to seek the one crucial tip that could break the silence and lead to an arrest. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the person or persons responsible for this senseless crime. Authorities urge anyone with knowledge of the shooting, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward and help bring a measure of justice to Michael's family.
