Funeral arrangements have been made for a 43-year-old man who was fatally shot in his Denton apartment last week. Meanwhile, law enforcement continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Last Wednesday, Denton police officers responded to a 911 call about gunshots fired shortly after 10 p.m., as previously reported by The Dallas Express. When officers arrived at the scene in the 1000 block of Eagle Drive, they discovered an apartment with the door slightly opened.
“As they approached, they heard somebody calling out for help. Officers went in, and they found our victim, Mr. Cory Johnson, inside with multiple gunshot wounds,” said Amy Cunningham, a Denton PD spokeswoman.
The officers attempted life-saving efforts on the victim before an ambulance transported him to a local hospital. However, Johnson died at the hospital soon after his arrival.
Investigators have ruled Johnson’s death a homicide. It is unclear whether he was able to provide any information to police officers before he died.
Family members told Fox 4 KDFW that Johnson was never violent, and they cannot understand why someone would shoot him.
“In our minds, you know, there’s no scenario that would lead to something like this because of who he was,” said the victim’s uncle, Michael Johnson.
“He’s never been in a fight. He’s just kind; he’s giving; he’s open-hearted and just very loving,” said Brenda Whitlock, Cory Johnson’s aunt. “He loved people, and people loved him,” she added.
“If that person did it to somebody as kind and gentle as Cory, they could do this to anybody,” Michael Johnson said. “We need ’em caught.”
UNT President Neal Smatresk released a statement last Friday concerning the news of Johnson’s death.
“Yesterday, we learned of the loss of one of our own, Cory Johnson, a 43-year-old member of Dining Services who had helped care for our students for two years. Please join me in sending our most sincere condolences to Mr. Johnson’s family, friends, and Mean Green colleagues,” Smatresk said.
Johnson’s funeral will be held on January 21, 2022, at St. Andrew Church of God in Christ, 608 Lakey Street, Denton, at 1 p.m.
Denton County CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 in the case and is asking anyone who may have information on Johnson’s death to call 1-800-388-TIPS.
Johnson’s death is the first homicide of the year reported by the City of Denton.
In Dallas, meanwhile, 16 homicides have been reported so far this year, according to the City’s Crime Analytics Dashboard.
The Dallas Express regularly reports on high-crime areas of Dallas, highlighting the districts where city council members have failed to ensure the safety of their constituents.