After fleeing her abusive boyfriend, 22-year-old Jada Johnson left a psychiatric hospital and went to stay with her grandparents - her “safe place.”
But the situation only escalated when she called the police after her boyfriend’s friends began harassing her there.
When officers arrived, they didn’t believe Johnson’s story. Even after her grandfather pulled one cop aside to explain Johnson was in mental crisis, the police STILL decided to arrest Johnson for filing a “false” report.
Johnson became terrified that officers were conspiring to kill her. Officers tackled her when she threatened to hurt herself - and only herself - with a gun. But they didn’t stop there. They handcuffed her grandfather, shooting her seven times as she lay on the floor.
Her grandmother and 2-year-old child stood watching.
Many have called for more mental health training for police in response to Johnson’s death. But police training has not stopped us from dying. This is a systemic issue within the mental healthcare system as well.
Only 4% of psychologists are even Black, and Black women especially face disparities in the system.
When an entire country and its systems are anti-Black. We need an overhaul. No matter how many reforms get passed, it's deadly when police are responding to Black people in crisis. Johnson deserved better. All of us do.