Roll of Honor
Incident
Reserve Sergeant James Johnson was shot and killed after being confronted by an armed suspect in front of his home on Vance Road at 6:30 pm.
The suspect had a long-standing disagreement with his neighbors over property boundaries. The man had moved from the property earlier in the month but returned with a rifle and murdered the couple he was in a dispute with.
The killer then confronted Reserve Sergeant Johnson and his 10-year-old grandson. Reserve Sergeant Johnson was able to distract the killer, which allowed his grandson to escape into the house and notify his grandmother, who called the police. When deputies were dispatched to the scene, Reserve Sergeant Johnson's son-in-law, who was a full-time deputy and off-duty, learned of the call and immediately responded to the scene.
In the meantime, Reserve Sergeant Johnson attempted to diffuse the situation but, at some point, was shot. When his son-in-law arrived at the scene, he encountered the assailant and became engaged in a shootout, and was wounded.
The 59-year-old killer was also shot and wounded by return fire. He was taken into custody and charged with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted capital murder. The action of the two deputies were credited with preventing the killer from murdering the couple's 5-year-old son, who was in the home at the time of the shooting.
The suspect was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He died in prison on September 8th, 2018.
Reserve Sergeant Johnson had served with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Department for 7 years and had previously served with the Kernersville Police Department in both full-time and part-time capacities for 28 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, two brothers, two sisters, and five grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-F8D96FB6- 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
35 years. You could have gone home.
Reserve Sergeant Johnson gave the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office 35 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Winston-Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Sergeant Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Reserve Sergeant James Milton 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Milton Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How James Milton Johnson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Milton Johnson is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Milton Johnson was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Forsyth County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
