David Lee "Star" Johnson

Phoenix Police Dept. — Phoenix, AZ

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 2, 1944

Age 36

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

The Vigil Panel 80 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 46

Incident

Police Officer Star Johnson was shot and killed by an off-duty city detective in front of 219 East Jefferson Street.

The detective had become upset after Officer Johnson stopped one of his friends for running a stop sign. As the two argued, the detective drew a revolver and fired five times, fatally wounding Officer Johnson.

The detective was acquitted at trial but was shot and killed by one of Officer Johnson's friends in an act of retaliation three days after returning to duty.

Officer Johnson was a U.S. Army veteran and served in law enforcement for at least seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his aunt and uncle.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-47810920
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 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.
Police Officer Johnson gave the Phoenix Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Phoenix Police Dept.

Location Phoenix, AZ

Platform Identity phoepd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 2, 1944

Tour of Duty 7 yrs

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Military Service

David Lee "Star" Johnson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer David Lee "Star" Johnson 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Phoenix Police Dept., 28 of 47 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.6% of this agency's fallen.

Phoenix Police Dept.

of 47 officers

59.6% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious