Nyssa remembers fallen hero on tragic anniversary
By Joe Hathaway on Monday, April 15th, 2024 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
NYSSA — Monday, April 15 marks the solemn one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Nyssa Police Reserve Corporal Joseph Johnson.
On April 15, 2023, Johnson was shot and killed near the intersection of North Third Street and Locust Avenue while making a traffic stop.
He was responding to reports of a violent man damaging property at a home and threatening its occupants. During the response, he encountered the suspect, Rene Castro, driving away and conducted a traffic stop. Castro immediately exited his car and opened fire, fatally wounding Johnson before he had a chance to return fire. Castro abandoned his vehicle, fled the scene, and was arrested two days later.
Castro recently pleaded guilty to Johnson’s murder and was sentenced on April 5 to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
Reserve Corporal Johnson had served with the Nyssa Police Department for almost five years. He had also served as a corrections officer with the Oregon Department of Corrections for 15 years and worked as a civilian employee for the agency.
Johnson was 43 years old. He is survived by his wife and two children.
To honor Johnson’s memory, the Nyssa Police Department and the City of Nyssa will fly all flags at half-mast on Monday.
On Monday evening at 5:30pm, the City will be holding the first-annual “JJ’s Memorial Softball Fundraiser”, located at the park renamed in his honor. Previously North Park, it’s located at Locust Avenue and North Fifth Street
The game will pit Police against Firefighters. The entire community is invited and there will be food, a raffle and a silent auction. All proceeds will be donated to fund training for Nyssa first responders.
“Officer Johnson loved baseball and his wife thought this would be a great idea to have a fun event and put smiles on people’s faces on what will be a hard day,” said Nyssa Police Chief Donald Ballou.
