The family of Kendrick “KJ” Johnson hosted their annual peace walk to honor his life on the anniversary of his mysterious death.
It’s been 12 years since Johnson’s dead body was found inside the middle of a large rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School’s gymnasium in 2013, per NewsOne. He was just 17 years old. Although the circumstances that led to his death were deemed unknown following police investigation, his mother Jacquelyn Johnson told the public he “was found dead from severe injuries along with evidence of a two-prong stun gun use” during a press conference in September 2024.
“They killed the wrong child but they got the right family,” she told WALB News 10 at this year’s walk.
On Jan. 9, Jacquelyn published a Facebook post dedicated to her son that included a picture of him to remind her village and others about the yearly “Angelversary.”
“Today makes 12 years my baby #KendrickJohnson life was taken at Lowndes High School and this hurt so bad,” her caption read. “My son was 17 beaten to his death January 10,2013 and nothing has been done as of January 10,2025 #12years #angelversary.”
Jacquelyn also explained to WALB News 10 at the walk they remain steadfast in “keeping the torch lit to justice.”
“It is not okay what happened to Kendrick. We won’t be silent and we will continue to fight for justice for our son until it’s done,” she said.
The group marched through the city until they reached where the crime allegedly happened.
“We are here to not just let the family know, but to let everyone know that when you touch one of us, you touch us all,” Matt Israel, an ally of the Johnsons, said to WALB News 10.
The Johnsons affirm their dedication to organizing community events and raising awareness about their son’s death, aiming to ensure that no other family suffers a similar loss.
“Our child is gone, so we continue to fight to make sure this does not happen to another family or another child. We want to make sure that no other family has to suffer like the Johnson family has been suffering for these past 12 years,” Kendrick’s father Kenneth Johnson said.
The Kendrick Johnson Foundation also held a musical gala on Jan. 11 to commemorate Kendrick’s passing.
They also commemorated his birthday back in October of last year.
