Wyonna Brianee Johnson

Wyonna Brianee Johnson was a resilient and loving 23-year-old Black woman with an indomitable spirit. Born in Chicago on November 10, 1999, she was remembered as a beacon of hope with an exuberant and infectious love for life. Her family and friends recalled her radiant personality, her ability to uplift the heaviest hearts, and a smile that could illuminate the darkest days. Wyonna was also a talented artist who expressed her soul through her painting and was seen as a compassionate humanitarian with a fierce belief in justice and love.

In the early hours of October 6, 2023, Wyonna’s life was tragically cut short. Around 2 a.m., Chicago police officers responded to a call at a residence in the New City neighborhood on the city's South Side. Inside the home, located in the 1800 block of West 54th Street, they discovered Wyonna and a man, 29-year-old Tommy Lamont Jones Jr., both suffering from gunshot wounds.

Wyonna had been shot in her head and body, while Jones had been shot in his chest and thigh. Both were rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, but their injuries were too severe, and they were pronounced dead.

At the scene, officers encountered a 63-year-old man who was an acquaintance of both Wyonna and Jones. He told police that he had been involved in an altercation with the pair. According to his account, Wyonna allegedly pulled out a handgun, which prompted him to draw his own weapon and open fire.

The 63-year-old man was taken into custody for questioning following the shooting. As of October 2023, no further information has been released by authorities regarding whether charges were filed or if the man was released. The case remains under investigation.