Johnny Ray Robinson

Johnny Ray Robinson was a husband, a father, and a pillar of his family, remembered for his happy, smiling face and his readiness to help anyone, whether family or a stranger. The 44-year-old Black man was a local business owner in Shreveport, Louisiana, running the J&D Café on Milam Street, a restaurant that had been in his family for generations. His family meant everything to him, and they recalled a loving, caring man who would go the extra mile to provide for them. "He mean everything to me," his wife said of her loss. His son, Johnny Barrett, described the pain as feeling like his heart had been ripped from his chest. His mother, Janice, found a small measure of comfort in what she was told about his final moments: "My son died like he live helping someone."

In the early hours of Saturday, September 20, 2025, that life of helping others came to a violent end. A large gathering of more than 150 people was taking place in the 1600 block of Poland Avenue in Shreveport's Allendale neighborhood. Around 2 a.m., the event was shattered by the sound of gunfire. When Shreveport Police officers arrived, they found a chaotic scene. Investigators would later determine that multiple shooters had opened fire into the crowd in what they believe was a targeted attack.

Eight people were struck by the gunfire. Amid the chaos, Johnny Ray Robinson and another man, 41-year-old Jonathan Green, were found with fatal injuries. They were rushed to a local hospital but did not survive. Six other victims were also wounded but were expected to recover. Police stated that while the attack appeared to be targeted at a specific individual, that person's injuries were not life-threatening. The violence of the incident left the community reeling and two families irrevocably broken.

The Shreveport Police Department's Homicide Unit immediately began an intensive investigation. On September 24, detectives announced they had identified one of the suspected shooters as 21-year-old Rissan Smith Jr. An active warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of attempted second-degree murder, with police noting that additional charges were likely. Authorities described Smith as a suspected gang member who was considered armed and dangerous, and they stressed their belief that more suspects were involved in the deadly shooting.

On October 14, 2025, a coordinated effort by the U.S. Marshals Task Force, the ATF Task Force, and the Shreveport Police Department's Special Investigations and K-9 Units led to the location and apprehension of Rissan Smith Jr. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Shreveport City Jail on the outstanding warrant. Investigators said that additional information was developed as a result of the operation and that the investigation remained active.

In the wake of the tragedy, Johnny Robinson's family asked the community to "get on your knees and pray for us every night." The community gathered to mourn their loss and celebrate his life. A visitation was held on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Heavenly Gates Funeral Home, followed by a funeral service the next day at Praise Temple Full Gospel Baptist Cathedral. Mr. Robinson was laid to rest in the gardens of Lincoln Cemetery in Shreveport.

As of the latest reports in October 2025, one suspect had been arrested in connection with the mass shooting that claimed the lives of Johnny Ray Robinson and Jonathan Green. The Shreveport Police Department has maintained that other individuals were involved and that further arrests and charges are anticipated as the investigation continues. Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the Shreveport Police Department at (318) 673-7300 or Caddo Crime Stoppers at (318) 673-7373.