Bystander Killed in Minneapolis Shooting Was Set to Graduate College Hours Later
Charlie Bernard Johnson in an undated photo shared by family.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner on Monday identified the bystander killed during a shootout early Saturday morning in downtown Minneapolis as Charlie Bernard Johnson, 21, of Golden Valley.
Johnson was a bystander outside of the Monarch nightclub just before 2 a.m. when gunfire rang out. In all, 10 people were struck, with Johnson and another man dying of their injuries.
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The medical examiner’s initial report released Monday said Johnson’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. He was among a group outside the nightclub at 322 N. 1st Ave. when two men were in a heated verbal argument, police said. Those two men both drew handguns and fired shots, spraying gunfire into the crowd just before bar close. One of the men suspected of pulling the trigger was Christopher Robert Jones Jr., 24, of Brooklyn Park. He was found dead at the scene of multiple gunshot wounds.
Johnson—who family said was out celebrating with friends before his graduation later Saturday from the University of St. Thomas—also died at the scene.
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Eight other people were shot but had non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Officers arrested Jawan Contrail Carroll, 23, later Saturday in Bloomington in relation to the killings. He was booked into the Hennepin County Jail and held on probable cause murder. More information on Carroll’s alleged role is expected when a charge is formally filed against him. Records show he was still in custody at the jail as of Monday evening.
Charlie Johnson’s father, Greg Johnson, shared a photo of his son on Facebook with the following note:
“This beautiful man is my son. He was stolen from us yesterday. The pain is too raw to deal with, but I want the world too know what it lost yesterday. He was the best of all of us and left a beautiful impact on every single life he touched. He is my hero. Please, say his name with me and let’s work together with peace and love to end this culture of gun violence and crime. No politics please, just love and compassion for each other as Charlie had for all of us. I AM CHARLIE!”
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