Demetrius Johnson

Demetrius Johnson was a selfless and genuine person who, his mother said, never met a stranger. The 16-year-old Black teenager was known for his loving nature, and in his last message to his mother, Aronica, he told her, “I love you so much and I’m so proud of how hard you work.” He had a bright future ahead of him, but his life was cut short by a burst of gunfire in a South Nashville apartment complex parking lot on a warm Saturday night. His family, including his grandmother Cynthia Johnson, was left not to plan for his future, but for his funeral.

The evening of June 10, 2023, turned tragic just before 11 p.m. in the 1700 block of Zermatt Avenue. According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, two groups of teenagers were arguing in the parking lot when the disagreement escalated into deadly violence. At some point during the altercation, shots were fired. When police responded to the scene at approximately 10:50 p.m., they found Demetrius lying on the pavement. He had been shot six times. His 18-year-old brother was also wounded in the attack, struck by a bullet in his foot. It was Demetrius’s brother who called their mother in a panic, telling her they had both been shot.

First responders rushed Demetrius to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. His older brother was treated for his wound and subsequently released. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, witnesses told police they heard the gunshots and then saw several individuals fleeing the area on foot. The identity of the shooter or shooters remained unknown as they vanished into the night, leaving a family and a community devastated.

The investigation was immediately taken up by detectives from the Metro Nashville Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Specialized Investigations Division. Investigators began pursuing what they described as active leads, piecing together the events that led to the fatal confrontation. The case, however, remained unsolved, with no arrests announced in the days and weeks that followed. The lack of resolution left Demetrius's family in a state of agonizing uncertainty.

In her grief, Demetrius's mother, Aronica, made a public plea for an end to senseless violence. “A disagreement gone wrong? An altercation. It’s not worth it,” she said. “It’s not worth losing a life.” While hoping for justice for her son, she also expressed a profound sense of loss and confusion. “I am so lost. I don’t understand why this had to happen this way,” she shared. She also expressed prayers for the person or people responsible and their families, acknowledging that the tragedy had ruined more than one life, but adding, "the thing is my son is never coming back.” The family organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the unexpected costs of his funeral, which was held on June 27, 2023, at the New Generation Funeral Home.

As of the latest reports, detectives are still working to identify the person or persons responsible for the murder of Demetrius Johnson. The case remains an active and open investigation. Metro Nashville Police continue to ask for the public’s help. Nashville Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the homicide case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the tip line at 615-742-7463. Callers can remain anonymous.