FORT WORTH, Texas — Josiah “JoJo” Dunn was riding his bicycle on the 3200 block of Strong Avenue when a truck hit him and continued driving. The incident was caught on a doorbell camera, and dozens of internet sleuths, led by the child’s mother, shared the video on social media.

What You Need To Know

  • Josiah “JoJo” Dunn was hit by a truck while riding his bicycle and rushed to the hospital with serious injuries

  • JoJo's mother, Amiee Johnson, became frustrated by police inactivity and decided to investigate on her own using surveillance camera footage

  • She eventually found the truck and organized a protest outside of the home

  • A suspect was arrested within 48 hours of the incident

Amiee Johnson, JoJo’s mother, told the KXAS TV station her son’s injuries included a broken leg, a skull fracture and swelling in his brain. With her son in the hospital in critical condition and the suspect not in custody, Johnson took matters into her own hands.

Immediately after the incident on July 11, Johnson, angry and impatient for justice for her son, began to investigate on her own. Her neighbor recorded the Ring video of her son being hit by the truck, and Johnson found a nearby store that had surveillance footage. Her sister posted the videos on Facebook, and within minutes, people on social media told Johnson the address to which the truck was registered. By 10:30 p.m. — less than three hours after her son was hit — she was certain she knew who had hurt him.

The next morning, she and her husband drove by the house on Bright Street, where she stood on the hood of her car and located the truck in the backyard.

She called the police and told them what she found. When they did not arrive within a few minutes, she asked others to call 911, too. Officers arrived at the house and had them cross the street. Johnson looked through the gate and saw someone taking the license plate off of the pickup truck, and she told police what was going on. She demanded the police do something.

Earlier in the day, according to a report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, police sent out a press release and asked the public for help finding any witnesses or more information about the suspected driver.

“Johnson said she was inside changing her other child’s diaper on Saturday at about 7:40 p.m. when her 11-year-old ran in and told her JoJo had been hit,” the story said. “She found her son outside and when she picked him up, he was limp in her arms.”

Police returned later that day and towed the truck from the back yard. Johnson felt temporary relief and expected an arrest would follow shortly. But police told Johnson they could not arrest anyone yet because they had not determined who was driving the truck. Johnson’s frustration grew as she said she repeatedly asked police when someone would be arrested over the course of the day Sunday.

More than 200 people showed up to protest

Throughout the day Monday, hundreds of people protested on the street in front of the suspect's house. Some brought folding chairs or sat on top of cars, and others had signs that read, “Justice for JoJo” and “Come on Law, do your job and make justice for JoJo.” People brought water and food as the protest progressed into the evening.

Patrice Jones, who has become one of the area's most influential voices for change and police accountability, shared news of the protest.

“Can I get some brothers to go stand in solidarity with the mother of the 8 year-old who was severely injured on yesterday in a hit and run?” she posted. “She has done all the ground work to find the vehicle and people responsible, yet the Fort Worth Police Department has failed to make any arrest. The detective assigned is Lockhard and he is off today. She is not leaving until the person responsible is arrested.”

Another woman shared the suspect’s address and shared the news that the driver of the truck was a minor. In her Facebook message, Nola Darling noted it was a “perfect day to grill.”

“Ya’ll bring chairs, coolers, bbq grill, whatever,” she wrote. We found them … [and we’re] camping … out.”

At one point, a group of people marched onto nearby Berry Street, prompting Fort Worth police to block off the street with police cars. At 8:30 p.m., at least 200 people were still outside the home. A few hours before, Fort Worth police had said they were preparing to serve an arrest warrant, protesters said. A handful of Fort Worth police officers stood on the sidewalk outside the suspected driver’s home.

Johnson, who is Black, felt police were giving her the runaround and telling her contradictory information. She had done the legwork to find out who had hurt her son, and now she wanted him taken into custody. When police assured her they knew who the driver was and the case was solved, she told them to go arrest him.

On July 13, Fort Worth Police announced that they arrested the juvenile suspect in the case. In a tweet, the department also thanked “all that assisted on this case and especially the family of the victim!”

“With the family’s assistance, the Fort Worth Police Department was able to secure an arrest warrant and take the suspect into custody within 48 hours of the time of the assault,” the statement said. “Their help, combined with the fantastic work of our dedicated detectives resulted in a speedy arrest and swift justice being served.”

The Fort Worth Police Department thanked JoJo’s family in the statement and said it “remains always committed to providing efficient and effective service to our community and we continue to pray for the swift recovery of the young victim.”

JoJo remains in serious condition but is reportedly improving every day.