HOUSTON — One week after a 19-year-old driver was gunned down in the Katy area, a reward of up to $30,000 is being offered for any information that leads to an arrest.
Cody Walker Johnson was shot and killed in an apparent road rage incident on Sept. 27.
The shooting happened at about 8 p.m. on the Katy Freeway between Beltway 8 and Highway 99.
Johnson was found in his black Chevrolet Camaro near a service road with gunshot wounds. He was flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital, but was ultimately pronounced dead.
At a press conference Friday, Crime Stoppers of Houston announced a large reward for information in Johnson's death. The 19-year-old's heartbroken parents called on the community to come forward with information.
"My heart will never be the same without Cody," his mother, Amy Juneau, said through tears. "Nothing will bring Cody back, but if there's any justice that can come out of this, just please help us find justice for Cody."
Johnson's parents said the 19-year-old loved life, and made a positive impact on others. He had just graduated from high school and was set to start a new job in car sales.
"A little bit of anger and a little bit of violence, leads to death and destruction, he didn’t deserve it," his father, Mike Johnson said. "Whoever took this life away from the world, come forward, if you know something, come forward, please give us answers."
On Friday, Sheriff Ed Gonzales asked other drivers who may have been on the Katy Freeway on Sept. 27 to recall if they saw vehicles racing, cutting each other off, or heard loud popping sounds.
"We also encourage those with cameras, or in-car cameras, such as rideshare drivers, to check their video footage to help bring justice to Cody," Gonzales said.
If you have any information, whether it be a vehicle description or dash camera video, you're encouraged to call the HCSO Homicide Division at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
Across the greater Houston area, fatal roadway shootings continue to take young lives.
In 2023, 17-year-old Louise Wilson was gunned down while driving to Galveston with friends. In 2021, 17-year-old David Castro was shot and killed by an aggressive driver when leaving an Astros game with family.
"We’re seeing this way too often, for what?" Sheriff Ed Gonzales said. "For just one moment where you lose your patience, or because someone cuts you off, or you were having a bad day, it just doesn’t make sense."