Fatal-shooting victim ID'd; uncle said he tried to break up fight

Cape Girardeau/Bollinger County Major Case Squad identified Brent Shonta Johnson, 30, of Cape Girardeau as the victim of a fatal shooting about 2 a.m. in the 1200 block of South Ellis Street.

A cross in the yard of a neighboring church stands at the end of the 1200 block of South Ellis Street, the scene of an early morning homicide Wednesday.Laura Simon

Johnson was found dead at the scene when police arrived, according to a news release.

Johnson's uncle, who did not wish to be named, told the Southeast Missourian that Johnson was trying to break up a fight between two other men about the same age as Johnson in front of 1211 S. Ellis St. They had been drinking earlier, but neighbor Darius Ayers said in an interview he did not notice a lot of noise at 1211 S. Ellis St.

Brent Shonta Johnson

The confrontation started as a fistfight until one of the combatants pulled a gun and Johnson was shot once in the chest, the uncle said.

"He had straightened his life up," the uncle said of Johnson.

The uncle said Johnson had two children. Johnson had a child in his profile photo on his Facebook page.

Brent JohnsonSubmitted photo

Ayers said the 1200 block of South Ellis had become a quiet block in south Cape Girardeau after a particular group of neighbors had moved away. Ayers said he has a security camera, but he forgot to turn it on before he went to bed Tuesday night.

"You could sit on the porch in peace," Ayers said. "You never think it's going to happen this close."

Chasity Zoellner, who lives on Hickory Street, just north of where Johnson was shot, described her neighbors as friendly and quick to greet each other with a wave.

"Over here, that's shocking," Zoellner said. "So sad."

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address: 1211 S. Ellis St, Cape Girardeau, MO