LaShon Thomas still feels the pain of her son’s tragic murder in Montgomery, even though it has been years since the incident occurred.
“It has completely destroyed my life. I am no longer the person I used to be,” she expressed.
After his passing, she has taken it upon herself to bring attention to his case. She goes to great lengths, purchasing billboards, organizing balloon releases, and commemorating his birthday annually.
Erick Johnson, born on August 8, 2000, was a unique individual with a distinct personality. According to his mother, he had his fair share of challenges from a young age, which only intensified once he enrolled at Carver High School.
“He got into some trouble, and as a result, he was enrolled in an alternative school,” she explained.
After graduating, Erick Johnson embarked on his professional journey and secured a job. However, in 2019, a significant change occurred in his life. His mother observed that he had received news about expecting a baby, a son, and he was enthusiastic about embracing fatherhood.
Erick Johnson and his family were enjoying a period of stability until the fateful night of January 6, 2020. It was then that someone urgently knocked on LaShon Thomas’ door, clearly distressed.
“They kept ringing the doorbell incessantly. Finally, we got up and found a group of girls at the door. They said something had happened to Erick,” she recounted.
She admitted, “I was unaware if he had committed a robbery or if there was someone else in the car with him. I simply had no knowledge.”
Years later, she is still on a quest to uncover the identity of that person, to understand the events that unfolded, and the reasons behind them. While relentlessly pursuing justice, she also finds solace in cherishing the memory of Erick alongside her loved ones, including her grandson.
“He has a 4-year-old son whom he never had the opportunity to meet. He was tragically killed just 22 days before his son was born. We carry the weight of this loss every single day,” she expressed. “It’s disheartening that there are so many people, and yet no one seems to have any knowledge about what happened to my child.”
The Montgomery County Cold Case Task Force is actively investigating this case.
