SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) - On the day that Tyler Johnson should be celebrating turning 18, his family is still desperate for answers about who killed him when he was 15.
Johnson was inside a room at the Westin Hotel in Southfield on Feb. 11, 2024, with some friends before he was found suffering a fatal gunshot wound to the head. But those friends he was with have refused to talk to police, leaving investigators without details about what transpired inside that room.
On Tyler's 18th birthday on Wednesday, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren, and Tyler's mother released a statement on the status of the case and urging people with information to come forward.
"We will not stop working to provide justice for Tyler Johnson," said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. "Our office remains in close communication with the Southfield Police Department. We know there are people who were with Tyler that night and have important information about what happened."
Teen's murder at Southfield hotel remains unsolved more than 2 years later -- What police are saying
A family is still seeking answers more than two years after 15-year-old Tyler Johnson was found shot to death inside a room at the Westin Hotel in Southfield.
The backstory:
An adult had rented a room for a group of five teens, including Johnson. Two of those teens fled after the shooting, while two others were detained near the elevator.
Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren said one of the detained minors was in possession of two firearms. One of the guns was reported stolen out of Flint in June 2023, while the other weapon was unregistered. One of those guns was found to be the one that killed Johnson, Barren said.
Further investigation in the hotel room revealed a spent 40 caliber shell casing, 20 live rounds inside a 9mm extended magazine, marijuana, psychedelic mushrooms, and a scale, police said.
The teen who had the guns was charged with carrying concealed weapons, but no other charges have been filed.
Barren said the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office hasn't been able to charge anyone because investigators don't know what transpired inside the hotel room.
Southfield Westin shooting: Why no one has been charged after teen fatally shot
A year after 15-year-old Tyler Johnson was fatally shot at the Southfield Westin Hotel, police say they are missing one key piece of the puzzle - an eyewitness.
"We have physical evidence. We have circumstantial evidence. What we need is an eyewitness to bring those things together," he said at a press conference a year after the shooting.
According to Barren, the parents of the four teens who were with Johnson have retained lawyers, and no one is talking to investigators.
What they're saying:
"The Southfield Police Department remains committed to seeking justice for Tyler Johnson," Barren said. "We stand in solidarity with his family and share the community’s desire for accountability."
According to the joint press release from Tyler's mother, police, and the prosecutor, investigators and officials from the prosecutor's office met with Johnson's family last month to answer questions about the current status of the case.
Authorities said the case will remain open until they solve Johnson's murder.
His mother, Tomika Alexander, released a long statement thanking those who have stood by her family since her son's death:
"I am Tomika Alexander, the mother of Tyler Johnson. Tyler was my only child, and the past two years have been nothing short of devastating. While no one is currently in custody, there is substantial evidence in this case, and we remain unwavering in our pursuit of justice for my son.
"Today, April 1st, my son Tyler would have turned 18 years old and would be preparing to graduate from high school—milestones that I do not get the chance to experience. This loss is something no parent should ever have to endure.
"I want to sincerely thank everyone who has stood with me, supported me, and lifted me up during this incredibly difficult journey. Your continued support means everything, and you are an essential part of what we call Tyler’s Village.
"Today, I want the public to know that we are moving forward—together. I am working directly with the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office and Chief of Police Elvin Barren of the Southfield Police Department to ensure that Tyler’s case continues to progress. There is a unified and committed effort between law enforcement, prosecutors, and our community to bring justice to this case.
"Let me be clear: we will not stop. We will not be discouraged. And we will not rest until justice is served.
"To those responsible for my son’s death—know this: we are coming. Every resource is being aligned, every effort is being made, and the full weight of the appropriate authorities stands behind this case. Justice is not a question of if—it is a matter of when.
"Thank you for taking the time to hear my voice and stand with us.
"Justice for Tyler."
What you can do:
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest.
Tips can be submitted at 1800speakup.org or by calling 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
The Source: Previous reporting and a statement from Southfield police, the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office, and Tyler Johnson's mother were used to write this story.
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