St. Thomas senior dies in downtown Minneapolis shooting

(TommieMedia file photo)

UPDATE: This story has been updated to include cause of death.

Charlie Johnson, a member of the St. Thomas Class of 2021 and a mechanical engineering major, died early Saturday morning in a downtown Minneapolis shooting, a St. Thomas Newsroom article said.

Johnson’s death came on the day of commencement. He was remembered at all three commencement ceremonies with his name read and an empty chair with a cap and gown.

“Our community is shocked and saddened by the news of Charlie’s death. We grieve with his family and friends and pray for their comfort. On a day he and his family should have been celebrating his graduation from our School of Engineering, we are devastated by this loss,” President Julie Sullivan said.

Campus Ministry and Sullivan have been in contact with Johnson’s family, and Counseling and Psychological Services and Campus Ministry are available for students, faculty and staff for support, the article said.

Johnson is the fifth St. Thomas student to die this school year, following the deaths of undergraduate students Kyra Winslow, Erika Cruz and Kailin Wang, and graduate student Olivia DeMeuse.

Justin Amaker can be reached at justin.amaker@stthomas.edu.