Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Howard Johnson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a bank robbery suspect. The subject robbed the First Federal Savings and Loan of Minneapolis at the Rosedale Shopping Center and fled on foot at 12:30 pm. A silent alarm was activated, and Roseville officers responded. The subject fled across Snelling Avenue into a residential area. Officer Johnson located the subject at 1548 Sextant Avenue, where the suspect shot him. He was transported to St Paul Ramsey Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries while in the operating room at 2 pm. The subject, 21, was arrested about 30 minutes later. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. On February 15, 1979, he and another lifer escaped from the federal prison in Marion, Illinois. They were captured three days later in Johnson County, Illinois. He got five years added to his sentence. Officer Johnson had served with the Roseville Police Department for 15 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, three children, and one grandchild.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-9ECAEDB6- 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 Roseville Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Roseville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Howard Louis 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Roseville Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Howard Louis Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How Howard Louis Johnson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Howard Louis Johnson is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Howard Louis Johnson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Roseville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
