| More than 100 grieving friends and family members gathered at St. Simon Church last Friday to attend the funeral service of Jeffrey Johnson, the 20-year-old Mountain View man fatally shot in Old Mountain View.
Former Mountain View High School classmates, friends, parents of friends and others had nothing but cheerful stories and memories to share about Johnson, who was known as an easygoing, fun-loving friend to many.
Danielle Rokitta, a staff member at Mountain View High, where Johnson graduated in 2005, remembered him as a "witty, joyful, silly, kind, hilarious and charming young man."
His brother, Brett Johnson, described Jeff as always being able to turn a negative into a positive. He wasn't just a brother, he was his best friend, Brett said.
Johnson died after being shot Feb. 7 under mysterious circumstances. According to police, the incident started on the 700 block of Ehrhorn Avenue near Calderon Avenue and El Camino Real, where officers responded to reports of gunshots and several vehicles fleeing the scene at about 7 p.m.
Seconds later, a white sport utility vehicle traveling southbound on El Camino Real drifted across all lanes and the center divider, striking two vehicles before coming to rest. Johnson, the driver of the SUV, was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound to the torso, police said. A passenger in the SUV, described as a man in his 20s, left the vehicle but is not considered a suspect.
At about 7:30 p.m., a local hospital notified the Mountain View Police Department that a second shooting victim was there. That victim sustained non-life threatening injuries and is not considered a suspect, police said.
Last week, police described the suspects of both shootings as Hispanic men in their 20s, and said they may have fled the scene in a dark-colored sedan. Anyone with information is asked to call (650) 903-6344.
Police said Tuesday that until arrests are made they cannot divulge details about the double shooting.
"We can't discuss what we believe would be the motive," said police spokesperson Liz Wylie. "We definitely have ideas and leads, but we can't go into detail about any of it."
In an e-mail, she added that "We have not arrested anybody for the homicide." Wylie said police would not release the names of witnesses, because "At this point the case is so sensitive and dynamic ... we are concerned for the safety of our three witnesses."
Those who went up to speak at the funeral seemed to be in shock over his death.
"He always preferred the social to the academic; he was a bright kid who learned quickly," said Skip Johnson, Jeffrey's father, who ended his comments by asking everyone for a favor: that everyone present let others know how much they care about them.
Jeffrey Karl Johnson was born Oct. 10, 1987. He attended Oak Elementary, Blach Intermediate and Mountain View High School. He leaves his parents, Skip and Ann; his brother Brett; and hundreds of friends and loved ones.
"It's always going to be a little different now. We'll miss you, Jeff," said his uncle, John Mercer. Staff writer Daniel DeBolt contributed to this report. Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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