Sister: Shooting victim died a hero

As far as Chelsea Johnson is concerned, her brother died a hero, trying to break up a fight.

“That act summarized everything Brent stood for,” Johnson said.

Brent Shonta Johnson, 30, of Cape Girardeau was with a group of people Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning at 1211 S. Ellis St., Chelsea Johnson said. In part, they were celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday.

“He was making sure it was the best birthday,” Chelsea Johnson said.

Before 2 a.m., two men at the party began arguing outside and then started to tussle, she said.

Brent Johnson poses for a photo with his daughter Brilyn Sides.Submitted photo

Brent Johnson had stepped between the two of them to stop the fight when one of the men pulled a gun and pointed it at the other, Chelsea Johnson said.

She said her brother was in the way and was shot once in the chest.

She thinks the man did not intend to shoot her brother, she said.

“These two guys who were fighting should tell what happened,” Chelsea Johnson said. “He was being the good Samaritan.”

Johnson said her brother was making great strides forward in his life after some earlier setbacks. He was working two jobs and had been doing his best to be an attentive father after his son Karter was born in late 2014, she said.

Brent Johnson, left, poses with his mother, Renee Davis; his sister Chelsea Johnson; his brother Devon Johnson; and his daughter Brilyn Sides, front row, in this undated family photo.Submitted photo

He had four children. Dymond Williams, 11, and Brilyn Sides, 8, both live out of town with their mothers, and 7-year-old Shontaez Bell lived with his mother but apart from Johnson in Cape Girardeau.

In September 2005, Brent Johnson pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance in two separate cases. He later was placed on five years probation in May 2006, but his probation was revoked in June 2008, and he was sentenced to 120-day shock incarceration.

Between 2006 and 2015, he also pleaded guilty to a handful of misdemeanor charges, including marijuana possession, peace disturbance and theft, and in 2011, he was charged with misdemeanor non-support. He was ordered to pay child support to Chiquita Bell and Katrina Williams in August 2009 and September 2011

“I’m 21 years old, and for half of my life, I saw my brother struggle,” Chelsea Johnson said. “He was a better father, a better son. He had a glow about him. We could all see it. He’s ambitious, so funny. He had such a big heart.”

Chelsea Johnson said her brother was trying to use their father, Ronnie Johnson, as an example. She described their father as a foundation of love for the family.

Ronnie Johnson died of cancer in 2010, she said.

“It took a huge toll on all of us,” Chelsea Johnson said of her father’s death. “I know it shook him up a bit.”

One of Brent Johnson’s jobs was working as salesman for Journeys shoe store at West Park Mall, according to manager Brandon May.

Johnson started as a seasonal employee at the store in late June to gear up for back to school and was one of the few who continued after the season, May said.

His friendly nature ended up driving business to the store as people would stop by to see him, May said. He said Johnson’s work ethic prompted other employees to follow his example, lest he make them look bad.

“If he would have continued on the track he was on, he would have been in management, in my opinion,” May said. “That’s where I would have pushed him.”

Journeys has been undergoing renovations, and the only people who have worked at the store recently have been management.

“It’s a real shame this situation happened how it happened,” May said.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

1211 S. Ellis St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.