The family of Dion Johnson has not received information from authorities about the events leading to the shooting or had access to the police report. The family called for a peaceful vigil in memory of Dion that was set for tonight, May 29, 2020, at 7:00 pm. However, when they arrived to mourn their loved one, they were met with temporary fencing and roadblocks issued by DPS. 

Local community organizers were forced to reroute community supporters to Eastlake Park at the last minute. DPS interfering with this memorial demonstrates a blatant indifference to the life of the man they killed just earlier this week and insensitivity to the mourners who wanted to gather in memory of Dion Johnson. This signals a national problem of police accountability that has sparked global protests the entire week.  

The family is working with a coalition of local organizations dedicated to liberation, which consists of Black Lives Matter Phoenix Metro, Black Phoenix Organizing Collective, Drinking Gourd Farms, Mass Liberation Arizona, and Phoenix Local Organizing Committee. The family, along with the support of these organizations, demands justice for Dion, which includes an immediate release of the police report, traffic cam footage, the officer’s name, and the return of Dion’s belongings to his family. Dion’s family demands accountability for the officer that should amount to no less than immediate termination. 

There is a fundraiser to support the family with expenses: https://www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-dion-johnson

The Phoenix Police Department is conducting the trooper investigation and DPS is conducting the administrative investigation for the shooting.