Mother of fallen officer says he was ‘exceptional kid’
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Family members of a Memphis Police officer who was killed in a line of duty following a crash are now speaking out and sharing memories of their loved one.
MPD officer Demetrice Johnson was identified as the officer involved in a fatal car accident early Friday morning.
His dedication and kind heart will be remembered by his family in Memphis and his hometown of Chicago.
“He was an exceptional kid, very well-behaved, very well respected. I never had a problem with my child. Growing up, he was never a problem,” said Cassandra Johnson, Demetrice’s mother. “He knows police officers in Chicago, they are not taking it too well either. This is a heavy hit for all of us.”
Memphis Police officer killed in downtown crash identified
Around 3:06 a.m., a gray Nissan collided with an MPD squad car, leaving three men critically injured. Johnson and the Nissan’s driver died soon after arriving at Regional One Hospital.
Police say the Nissan’s driver had been shot during a disagreement with another person a mile away. The driver took off and collided with the police cruiser.
Lamont Darty was a close friend of Officer Johnson. He says Johnson was a dedicated officer who always wanted to serve and protect.
“It happened pretty quick too. I was really proud of him that he was able to live out his dream for the little time that he did when he had a chance to he always talked about being a police officer,” Darty said.
Cassandra recalls his good manners but says she feared for his safety.
“He studied law that’s what he wanted. I asked him not to because I didn’t want him to be a police officer because that’s something I feel the most and the very thing I feared the most is what took him out of here … blood, law enforcement is what he loved. He wanted to be an Officer so he fulfilled his dream,” Cassandra said.
MPD officer, civilian dead; officer critical following crash on Danny Thomas
Darty, a security guard, beams with pride, saying Johnson took his dream to the next level by becoming a police officer.
“He was just a people person. Anything involving helping people that’s what he wanted to do I feel like being a police officer is one of those things that requires helping others in need and that’s one thing he always cherished, helping others,” Darty said.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the collision, while MPD’s Homicide Bureau works to unravel the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“Just a loving guy, that’s why I was so in shocked that something happened to a beautiful soul like that,” Darty said.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.