Investigators say the driver’s child was in the car and was not hurt.
FERGUSON, Mo. — A North St. Louis County father was shot and killed late Friday morning after honking at people in the roadway, according to police. The gunfire sent his car into a crash on Canfield Drive as his young child sat in the vehicle, uninjured.
Detectives say the confrontation began near West Florissant Avenue and Canfield Drive and quickly escalated into a fatal shooting. The victim was identified as Edward Johnson Jr., of the Castle Point area. By Saturday, Ferguson police said an arrest had been made and charges were filed in the case. The killing — in broad daylight and in front of a child — has renewed attention on street disorder and road-rage incidents in North County as investigators continue to gather video and witness statements.
Police were called around 10:15 a.m. Friday to reports of shots fired near West Florissant and Canfield. Responding officers found a car that had crashed in the area of Ellison Drive and Canfield Drive and a driver suffering from a gunshot wound. Johnson was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators said the child in the car was not physically hurt and was turned over to family after being checked by first responders. “This senseless act of violence has taken a life and forever changed a family,” Police Chief Troy Doyle said, noting that officers moved quickly to locate people believed to be involved.
Detectives say preliminary evidence shows Johnson honked his horn at pedestrians standing in the street moments before shots were fired. Police said video from nearby buildings and witness accounts led them to an apartment complex close to the scene, where several people of interest were detained for questioning. On Saturday, officers arrested Deandre U. Spruill Jr. in connection with the shooting, and prosecutors later filed charges. Authorities have not publicly detailed how many shots were fired or the exact distance between the vehicles and pedestrians. The child’s exact age was not released. Police said no other injuries were reported at the scene.
Ferguson and surrounding North County neighborhoods have contended with traffic disruptions and on-street gatherings along stretches of West Florissant in recent years. The busy commercial corridor, which links several municipalities, also sees heavy daytime traffic and bus routes. City officials have periodically added patrols to address reckless driving complaints. While investigators emphasized that this case appears to be a dispute that turned deadly in seconds, they said the daylight timing and proximity to homes along Canfield Drive added urgency to securing the area and collecting evidence, including surveillance video and shell casings.
Police said the case was forwarded to county prosecutors for charging review following Spruill’s arrest. Court records will outline formal counts and a bond decision. Detectives are continuing to canvass the area for additional footage and have requested that nearby businesses save relevant recordings. A preliminary hearing date will be set once charges are formally docketed. Meanwhile, child advocacy specialists are assisting Johnson’s family as authorities complete interviews and reports ahead of any grand jury or preliminary proceedings.
Neighbors described a sudden burst of sirens and a heavy police response as officers blocked Canfield Drive and secured a crash scene that stretched across several yards. Residents said they saw detectives photographing a vehicle and marking evidence on the pavement. Family members gathered later in the day, many in tears, as word spread that Johnson’s child had been inside the car. “This was a father traveling with his child,” Chief Doyle said, calling the shooting “unacceptable” and praising detectives for what he described as a rapid response under difficult circumstances.
As of Saturday evening, police said the child was safe with relatives and that additional information on charges and court dates would be released once filings are complete. Detectives planned to return to the neighborhood to search for more video and speak with residents early next week.
Author note: Last updated February 1, 2026.