Jerome A. Johnson (1946-28 June 1971) was a Colombo crime family associate who was hired by Joe Gallo to assassinate Don Joseph Colombo. Johnson mortally wounded the Don before being shot to death by his bodyguards.
Biography[]
Jerome A. Johnson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1946, and he became a street hustler and criminal. In 1971, he was hired by Colombo crime family soldier Joe Gallo to assassinate Don Joseph Colombo, and he wore a special Unity Day press pass that he obtained from official sponsoring one of Colombo's Italian-American Civil Rights League rallies. On 28 June 1971, he attended the League's rally in Columbus Circle while disguised as a photographer, and he shot Colombo three times as he left the stage from his speech. Colombo was hit in the head and neck, and Johnson was then shot dead by Colombo's bodyguards. Colombo died of his wounds years later.