“Elijah represented hope to his family and to the community,” Adelekan said. “What I appreciate so much about this family is their willingness not to manage their pain in an isolated way, but in the power that they expressed to reach out to others and to use this moment in their lives and in the moment of the city to call people together to peaceable living to nonviolence to love and build a beloved community.”
Johnson's death last Thursday marked the most recent incident where a young child was killed or injured in a drive-by shooting. Two-year-old Christian Green was struck in the head by a bullet Christmas Eve, but survived. Maleki Parker, age 5, was playing in his living room when he was shot and killed Nov. 10.
In addition to Johnson, his grandmother, Diana Hicks, a 63-year-old water department employee for the city of Dayton, and his mother’s boyfriend, 25-year-old Isaiah Smith, were injured in the shooting. Both were treated and released from area hospitals.
Hicks and other members of Johnson’s family attended church Sunday, according to Adelekan.
“The church wrapped their arms, metaphorically, symbolically and literally, around this family to let them know they have a shoulder to lean on,” he said.
Two Dayton men arrested after a high-speed chase Friday, who may also have a connection to the shooting, are scheduled to be in court this week, according to sheriff’s office records.
Bryan J. Cortner, 23, and Dontay J. King, 23, were taken into custody by Dayton police Friday following a vehicle chase that started on Ohio Route 49, with speeds up to 80 mph, and ended on Oakridge Drive.
Cortner was taken into custody on failure to comply with a police officer’s order and obstructing official business. A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday. He is also being held on multiple previous court cases with charges that include driving on a suspended license, domestic violence and burglary.
King is being held on suspicion of parole violations. His hearing is also scheduled for Tuesday.
Dayton Police did not provide any more details Sunday about a potential connection between Cortner and King and last week’s drive-by shooting. Police have previously said they are unsure whether both Cortner and King played a role in Johnson’s death.
Nickolai Gray Jr., 20, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of felonious assault and one count each of discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises and having weapons while under disability in connection with Green’s shooting on Christmas Eve.
Staff writer Lauren Stephenson contributed to this report.
About the Author