Jury Finds Johnston Guilty of Illegal Possession of a Firearm

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Brandon Johnston guilty of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. With the verdict, Johnston faces up to 15 years in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Mark Borello will sentence Johnston at a later date.

On Jan. 22, 2023, officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to Powers Avenue for reports of a person shot. Officers determined Johnston and his girlfriend got into a fight, and Johnston pulled a gun on her. As she ran away, a witness saw Johnston with the weapon and then heard a single gunshot. The witness stopped to see if either were injured and saw that Johnston had been shot in the leg. Johnston was later located at a family member’s home on San Jose Village Lane and was taken to a hospital to treat the gunshot wound to his thigh. Johnston is a convicted felon and is not legally allowed to possess a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Christina Roldan and James Netter.