Pompano Beach Remembers Bri and AJ as Families Seek Justice After Miramar Shooting

By Villij News Staff

For many young people in South Florida, Brianna Johnson was known as “DreamDoll Brii,” a rising social media personality who entertained hundreds of thousands of followers through her videos, music and energetic personality.

But in Pompano Beach, she was more than an online personality. She was a daughter, a friend, a former Blanche Ely High School student and a young woman building a future beyond social media.

Her cousin, Arthur Lee “AJ” Johnson III, was also 21 and shared a close connection with the same community. Family members described the cousins as growing up together and sharing a bond that extended far beyond their last name. On July 5, 2026, both cousins were caught in a shooting in Miramar that ultimately claimed their lives. A third person was also injured.

Although the shooting happened miles away from their Pompano Beach roots, the tragedy brought friends, relatives and residents together to remember their lives and demand justice.

Two Young Lives Connected to Pompano Beach

Brianna and AJ were both members of Blanche Ely High School’s Class of 2023, according to CBS News Miami. Their shared upbringing and school connections made the loss particularly personal for those who knew them in Pompano Beach.

Brianna’s growing social media presence had introduced her to audiences far beyond Broward County. Known on TikTok as “ItGirlBri” and on Instagram as “DreamDoll Brii,” she shared videos featuring dancing, humor, travel and everyday experiences. Her online popularity also opened doors to music and entertainment opportunities. According to USA TODAY reporting, Brianna’s mother, Hope Jones, said her daughter had studied sociology at Florida Atlantic University and worked in the dietary department at Holy Cross Hospital. Jones also described her daughter’s ambitions in music and entertainment.

Before college, she was involved in cheerleading and was crowned Miss Blanche Ely during a high school homecoming celebration. Her family described her as ambitious, outgoing and determined to create opportunities for herself. AJ was remembered by loved ones as someone with ambitions of his own. His father described him as an entrepreneur, while relatives emphasized his personality and the dreams he had for his future. Together, the cousins represented two young adults whose lives were still unfolding.

What Happened During the Miramar Shooting?

According to Miramar police, officers responded to the area of Southwest 27th Court and Sunshine Boulevard shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, following reports of gunfire. Investigators said Brianna, AJ and a third person were traveling in a lime-green Lamborghini Urus when a white sedan approached the SUV near an intersection.

Someone inside the sedan opened fire, striking all three occupants. The Lamborghini continued moving before crashing into a nearby home. Emergency responders transported the three victims to a hospital for treatment. Brianna died from her injuries. On July 8, Miramar police confirmed that AJ had also died.

The third victim survived and was later released from the hospital, according to CBS News Miami. The shooting quickly attracted attention across South Florida, particularly because Brianna had built such a large audience online. However, beyond the social media coverage, the deaths left two families grieving and a community struggling to understand why two young lives had been taken.

Investigators Examine Evidence and Possible Motive

In the days following the shooting, Miramar police reviewed surveillance footage and released emergency calls documenting the moments after gunfire erupted. Nearby surveillance video showed the Lamborghini traveling through the neighborhood before another vehicle approached. The gunfire and subsequent crash prompted frantic calls to emergency dispatchers as witnesses sought help for those injured. Investigators also examined circumstances surrounding the victims’ activities earlier that morning.

Miramar Police Chief Delrish Moss said in July that investigators believed the shooting may have been targeted. However, the department had not publicly established a motive at that time. The distinction is important: An investigative theory does not establish why the shooting occurred or who was responsible. Investigators initially described the vehicle involved as a white sedan, possibly a BMW. In the July reports reviewed by Villij News, police had not publicly identified a suspect or established a motive.

The case is also featured by Broward Crime Stoppers, which continues to publicize information about the deaths of Brianna Johnson and Arthur Johnson III.

Pompano Beach Community Marches for Justice

On July 16, family members, friends and supporters gathered in Pompano Beach for a march honoring Brianna and AJ and calling for an end to gun violence. The gathering brought together residents who wanted the cousins to be remembered for their lives rather than solely for the circumstances of their deaths. Participants carried signs, walked through the community and called for information that could help investigators. Pompano Beach Commissioner Beverly Perkins helped organize the event, which included a march, a discussion about gun violence and a candlelight vigil.

The event also created space for young people to share their concerns about violence and safety in their neighborhoods. In an interview with Local 10 News, Perkins emphasized the importance of listening to young residents and understanding what they need to feel safer. The gathering was intended not only to honor two lives but also to encourage a broader conversation about prevention, community support and accountability.

Families Remember More Than a Tragedy

For the families of Brianna and AJ, the public attention surrounding the shooting could not replace the two people they had lost. Brianna’s mother, Hope Jones, spoke about how much her daughter meant to her, stressing that her identity extended well beyond the name people recognized on social media.

“She was Brianna. That was my child. That was my everything,” Jones told Local 10.

At the Pompano Beach memorial, AJ’s relatives also spoke about his personality, his ambitions and the future they had expected him to have. His sister, Aleysia Johnson, remembered him as someone whose dreams were larger than the circumstances of his death.

AJ’s father told those gathered that he hoped to turn the family’s tragedy into something meaningful that would honor both cousins. The July memorial also included a candlelight gathering, giving relatives and supporters an opportunity to reflect on their memories and stand together. As the families continued grieving, they urged anyone who might know something about the shooting to come forward.

Broward Crime Stoppers Seeks Information

Broward Crime Stoppers maintains an official homicide listing for Brianna Johnson and Arthur Johnson III. The organization advertises a reward of up to $5,000 for qualifying information that helps lead to an arrest, subject to the program’s terms and conditions.

Anyone with information about the July 5 shooting can contact:

• Miramar Police Department Homicide Tip Line: 954-602-4937
• Broward Crime Stoppers: 954-493-TIPS (8477)
• Online anonymous tips: browardcrimestoppers.org

Information can also be submitted through the Crime Stoppers P3 Tips system. Residents can view the official Broward Crime Stoppers case listing for additional information. As the families continue remembering Brianna and AJ, the Pompano Beach community’s response reflects the lasting impact of their deaths and the need for answers.

Villij News will continue following developments in the investigation, the families’ calls for justice and community efforts to address gun violence in Pompano Beach and across Broward County.