Percival A. Johnson Sr.

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 10, 1955

Age 24

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 127

Incident

Patrolman Percival Johnson was shot and killed during a disturbance at a location on Julia Street. According to the police, Patrolman Johnson and his partner Patrolman Clarence Mathieu, both assigned to the traffic detail, broke up a minor disturbance at Rampart and Girod at approximately 2:15 am. After the officers had identified themselves, broke off the disturbance and walked away from the scene continuing their beat out Girod to Dryades, the suspect, a local barber, yelled a threatening comment at the officers and then allegedly fired on the officers. The officers returned the fire chasing the barber to a rear doorway at 1201 Julia Street. Patrolman Johnson was fatally shot in the mouth as he pushed open the rear door. The shooter was shot in the groin during the running exchange of gunfire. The 52-year-old suspect was committed at a ward for the criminally insane at East Louisiana State Hospital. Patrolman Johnson had served with the agency for two years and had previously served with the United States Air Force.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-0C53C1D7
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Johnson gave the New Orleans Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department New Orleans Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA

Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 10, 1955

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Percival A. Johnson Sr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Percival A. Johnson Sr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 61.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.

New Orleans Police Department

of 128 officers

67.2% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious