Justice Devaun Johnson, a former Festus High School football player, has been identified as the victim of a fatal shooting Monday evening (Jan. 14) at the McDonald’s restaurant parking lot, 8960 Page Ave., in Overland.
At about 7:15 p.m., the Overland Police Department responded to a call for shots fired and a person down. Upon arrival officers found Johnson, who was the victim of an apparent gunshot wound, the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis reported today (Jan. 15) in a written statement.
Johnson, 18, was taken to Mercy Hospital St. Louis in Creve Coeur, where he was pronounced dead.
The written statement said Johnson was from Herculaneum, but Major Case Squad spokesman Detective Joey Nickles said the victim had lived in more than one location of late, including recently in St. Charles.
No motive has been released and the investigation is ongoing, Nickles said.
Johnson, who played football for Festus during his first two years of high school, started at quarterback as a sophomore for the Tigers in 2016. He transferred to Kirkwood High School his junior year and was on the Pioneers’ football team in 2017.
“He had one of those charismatic smiles,” said Russ Schmidt, the Festus football coach. “He was a very athletic quarterback. It’s been a very somber day at the high school. He still has a lot of friends here.”
Anyone with information is urged to call Major Case Squad Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477).