WILMINGTON — Police Chief Ralph Evangelous addressed last week’s shooting death, joined by investigators and Yolanda Hayes, the mother of the victim, who all begged for an end to attempts at retaliation.
Late in the evening of Thursday, Feb. 21, Zalleux Johnson, Jr. was shot and killed in Creekwood South. Johnson, 18, was the first Wilmington homicide victim of 2019.
On Sunday, the Wilmington Police Department was unsure whether the death was gang-related, but said it was concerned about possible retaliatory attacks. According to Evangelous, the shooting is now considered gang-related and police have responded to several ShotSpotter notifications, “one of which has confirmed to be retaliation in the days that followed” Johnson’s death.
“One homicide is too many. One act of retaliation is too many,” Evangelous said, before again pleading for anyone with information to contact the police.
Below: Watch the video of the meeting, streamed on social by WPD.
Captain Thomas Tillman, who is leading the investigation, echoed Evangelous in asking for any available tips or leads from the community as well as asking for a stop retaliation.
“We don’t want retaliation. We live in a system and a society where laws and justice must rule. Retaliation on the streets is not justice. Retaliation on the streets could bring about more innocent victims,” Tillman said.
Johnson’s family, including his mother, also spoke out against any attempts at retaliation.
“The only thing you can do for me is [to] bring my son’s killer to justice. I don’t want anybody to try and take it into their own hands. I don’t want another mother to feel the pain that I feel,” Hayes said.
Hayes also addressed her son’s past.
“When ZJ came home, regardless of what he did, he was a good boy, he was trying,” Hayes said, apparently referring to a six-month prison term Johnson served for armed robbery. “This street credibility, this gang stuff you have going on, when he came home he was my son, he was my baby. I didn’t matter. He wasn’t the type of person running around just shooting people, or being mean, or cruel,” Hayes said.
Johnson’s sister also spoke, saying that she forgave her brother’s killer, while also asking whoever was responsible to come forward.
“You’re probably hiding, you probably don’t want to show your face because of this. Even facing life in prison or whatever you’re going to face for this, I know you’re scared. But it’s better to know and own up to what you’ve done. You’ve caused a lot of hurt, you’ve caused a lot of pain,” she said.
“We want peace and to know that somebody dangerous isn’t still out there or that this dangerous cycle isn’t still happening,” she said. “It’s going to solve anything fighting fire with fire. It’s only going to cause more fire.”
The investigation is on-going according to the WPD. Anyone with information is urged to contact WPD at 910-343-3609 or use Text A Tip.
