'It’s just a hard pill to swallow': Community mourns courthouse officer killed in Milwaukee shooting

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:01]Well, thank you for joining us tonight. I'm  AJ Bappour. We begin with what has been a violent start to the weekend in Milwaukee. Three  people died in different homicides last night.

[00:00:12]We begin with the loss of a familiar face  at the county courthouse. Dennis Johnson, a safety officer there, was shot and killed on the  city's north side. Mia Bearden was at the scene tonight where friends and loved ones gathered to  remember Johnson. A balloon release turned into an emotional tribute as loved ones remember Dennis  Johnson. And now they're demanding answers as to what happened. My brother was a beautiful person.  He's arrested in heaven, but I can't believe somebody would do this to my brother. Balloons  filled the sky Saturday night as families and friends said goodbye to Dennis Johnson. Police say  the 56-year-old Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office public safety officer was shot and killed Friday  near Tatonia and Chambers just after leaving work at the courthouse. His loved ones say the loss  still doesn't feel real. This is just a hard pill as well. I just can't believe that this happened  to my brother. He was not the type he did was in the streets. All he did was go to work, come home,  go to work, come home. That's all you you don't expect for something to happen to somebody  like that. He supported whatever we needed him to do. He was always on call, that's all.  And that's not something you can replace. What started as a candle light vigil quickly became a  powerful show of support. It doesn't make sense to take somebody life. And we don't  even know the the whole purpose of this.

[00:01:31]We got somebody that's loved. Look at these  people. We got somebody that's loved and we don't even know why he's absent right now. Dozens  were gathered to honor Johnson's life and stand behind his grieving family. I'm just looking at  all the people's here. I'm just amazed and just dumbfounded and just happy that people are here  for my brother and our family as well because we're going to need to get us through these the  next few days. And while Milwaukee police continue searching for suspects, his loved ones say they  won't stop searching for justice. We will not rest until they're caught and serving the time that  they deserve for killing my brother for no reason.

[00:02:05]In Milwaukee, Mia Bearden, CBS58 News. Mia, thank  you. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley put out a statement this afternoon saying, quote, "I'm  deeply saddened to learn about the tragic loss of Dennis Johnson, who long served our community as  a public safety officer. Dennis was a member of the Milwaukee County family, and his presence  will be missed in the halls of the courthouse.