DeAngelo Johnson had no enemies, his family said. Who killed the young East St. Louis man?
Pastor Vincent D. Collins knew DeAngelo Johnson as a beloved member of Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church in East St. Louis, where he had a positive impact on young and old alike because of the way he lived his life.
“He was tremendously loved in our congregation. If we needed DeAngelo to come to the church to help us out with something, he would always come,” Collins said. “Mt. Pisgah loved him and he loved his church. He had a relationship with Jesus Christ, his lord and savior.”
Just days ago, Collins presided over the funeral service for Johnson, whose body was found in the front yard of his 1538 Baker St. home in East St. Louis on June 21. He had been shot to death. His slaying remains unsolved.
The people who knew Johnson best — his pastor, his mother, his siblings, his grandmother and extended family — are at a loss over the shooting and who might have taken the 27-year-old’s life. They are appealing to the public to help police solve the crime.
“I want to know who did this,” said Davion Bush, an older brother . “They took an angel. He was a living God. He loved everybody. He would’ve given anyone, including the person who did this, the shirt off of his back or bought him one. He was a true friend.”
Latoya Whitfield, an aunt, said, “They took a good man, a God-fearing man, a family man. They took a big piece of our family.”
Police are still looking for the shooter and are asking anyone with any information to call the East St. Louis Police Department at 618 482-6724 or Illinois State Police.
Who was DeAngelo Johnson?
Family members said many in the community knew Johnson by his nicknames Loach or Judah. He was one of six siblings.
Johnson was a father, a business owner, a man who was loved by family, friends and associates. And he was a positive, generous person, finding the good in others and helping those in need.
“My son impacted so many people,” said Eutessa Bush, Johnson’s mother, “ He was raised out of love. That was the thing. His heart was just too big. He loved everybody. He trusted too much. He didn’t fear anybody. He didn’t think anybody would hurt him. No matter how much we tried to tell him.”
He was fun-loving too, and a sharp dresser.
“He was a light,” said Jennifer Taylor, a cousin. “ He was family-oriented At family gatherings and just in his everyday life, he was the spark that lit up any space. Everyone was glad to see him. He brought laughter and fun”
Helen Coats, Johnson’s grandmother, said her “baby grandson” was always supportive and respectful., “He posted something saying ‘If I could find a woman like my two grannies I would stay at home,” Coats said laughing.
“He always gave us kudos,” she said. “He was so sweet.”
Taylor said Johnson played football, ran track and wrestled for Belleville West High School.
He was a hard worker, and owned a lawn-care business called Chosen 1 Lawn Care Service.
Whitfield, his aunt, said Johnson “wasn’t the typical young man in this world and in these streets. DeAngelo knew about God. He knew about life. He loved all of his family. He cared about elderly people. He would cut their yards for free.
“I can’t even explain to you how much good he’s done on this earth in his short time here,”. Whitfield said, choking up frequently. “He was the glue to the family. He got the young people involved with the old people. There was no separation. He didn’t judge anybody. You could be the worst person on this earth and he would love you, try to help you, try to steer you in a better direction.”
Johnson had a six-month old son. Johnson and the baby’s mother both beat cancer, so they named the baby Immortal, Taylor said.
Neighbors found Johnson in his front yard
Tayor last talked to Johnson on June 16 when the two of them discussed his plans to move to Georgia to expand his business.
Five days later, on June 21 about 7:20 p.m., police received a call about a man down. When officers arrived at the house on Baker Street, they found Johnson’s body in the yard.
A family friend who lives on the same street and was returning from the store saw Johnson on the ground in the front yard.
“She approached him and when she realized it really was him, she called and told us somebody shot Loach” Whitfield said..”She said he was laying out in his yard, We all rushed to his house.”
Since that day, family and friends have mourned and struggled with the loss of Johnson, while wondering who could have killed him.
Bush, his older brother, wants the shooter captured and to feel the emotional pain that his family feels over Johnson’s loss.
“Y’all took a life. I want whoever did this to know where I am coming from. I loved my brother. Our family and a lot of people loved my brother,” Bush said. “This absolutely makes no sense.”
Collins, the pastor, wants gun violence to stop. He says compassion and understanding among people in the community have to be present.
“Gun violence is so prevalent in all of our communities locally and nationally. It is having a devastating impact,” Collins said. “ Gun violence is unnecessary and we want our politicians and elected officials to do the right thing to make sure guns are not in the hands of the wrong people.”
This story was originally published July 13, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
