Robert Louis Johnson, Jr.

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch April 27, 1997

Age 31

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Badge 809

The Vigil Panel 143 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 130

Incident

Officer Robert Johnson was shot and killed, and another officer was shot and wounded at approximately 10:30 pm as a result of a parking problem. They had just gotten off duty and became involved in the altercation near the intersection of Benning Road and 43rd Road, NE. The suspect told them he would be back to settle it after both officers identified themselves. When he returned, he unexpectedly opened fire on them. Officer Johnson was taken to DC General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next day. He was the third Metropolitan police officer killed in two months and the second killed within one block of a police station. Both suspects in his murder were convicted of first-degree murder on May 22nd, 1998. The shooter was sentenced to 51 years to life in prison, and his accomplice was sentenced to 46 years to life. Officer Johnson had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-DC-2355B866
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Johnson gave the Metropolitan Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Johnson.

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

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police Department

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1997

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 31

Badge Number 809

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced 51 years to life

Officer Robert Louis Johnson, Jr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.

Metropolitan Police Department

of 131 officers

53.4% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious