Minneapolis Man Gets Life Sentence After Deadly Domestic Attack

Mar 14

A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2023 murder of his girlfriend in a domestic violence case.

Johnny Leroy Brown, 52, was convicted in February of multiple charges including first-degree murder while committing domestic abuse, second-degree intentional murder, second-degree unintentional murder while committing a felony and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The victim, Kesha Moore, 43, was found dead in her apartment with a gunshot wound to the head.

The case began when Brown called 911 twice, telling dispatchers that he and Moore had a physical altercation, that she had pulled a gun and that the firearm discharged. He claimed she was dead and later stated he was ready to turn himself in. However, dispatchers determined that he was not at the location he provided.

Minneapolis police arrived at Moore’s apartment on the 4200 block of Sheridan Avenue South and forced entry, discovering her deceased with a gunshot wound to the left side of her head. Her right eye was significantly swollen and evidence indicated her body had been moved. Officers recovered a single 9mm discharged cartridge casing, but Moore’s registered firearm was missing and Moore’s vehicle was gone.

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During the investigation, a family member of Moore’s told police that Brown had called them and confessed, saying, “I f—ked up, I killed your cousin. I turned myself in.” The family member said Moore and Brown had lived together for several months but she had recently asked him to move out.

Authorities tracked Brown after learning he got a new phone the day after the killing. When arrested, he was in a vehicle with a new girlfriend. During questioning, Brown initially claimed the shooting was accidental, saying he took the gun from Moore, stepped back and it “just went off.” But firearm analysis revealed that the trigger required a significant amount of force, contradicting his claim of an accidental discharge.

Further inconsistencies in Brown’s account included his denial of moving Moore’s body despite a large blood smear indicating otherwise. He admitted to taking Moore’s car and firearm and later throwing his phone out of a window to avoid being tracked. The gun was never recovered.

Brown had a long history of domestic violence including multiple assault convictions and restraining orders. He had previously served more than nine years in federal prison for a firearms offense and was prohibited from possessing a gun. His past convictions included second-degree assault and multiple domestic violence-related offenses dating back to 1993.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. The Hennepin County Domestic Abuse Service Center (DASC) provides advocacy, legal assistance, and safety planning for victims. Visit their office at the Hennepin County Government Center or call 612-348-5073 for support. For 24/7 assistance, contact Day One at 1-866-223-1111 (call) or 612-399-9995 (text). Additional support is available through Violence Free Minnesota (vfmn.org) and the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (mncasa.org). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.