61-Year-Old Grandmother Fatally Punched in the Face by Man in Public Street; Brother Says He Has ‘No Earthly Idea Why This Happened’

 

New Orleans – A 61-year-old grandmother was fatally punched by a 23-year-old man on a French Quarter street last week.

According to NOLA.com, New Orleans police said the 61-year-old woman, Johnson Street, got into an argument with 23-year-old Jeremiah Mark in the 100 block of Royal Street on April 18 at about 7:45 p.m.

Older, undated photo of Johnson Street, 61, provided to NOLA.com

Jeremiah Mark punched Johnson in the face, causing her to fall back and hit her head.

Johnson was taken to a nearby hospital where she was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and died two days later.

Police arrested Mark this week and charged him with manslaughter; his bail is set at $100,000 and he faces up to 40 years in prison.

“We have no earthly idea why this happened,” said Jeffrey Johnson, brother of Margaret “Jane” Johnson Street. “It won’t bring my sister back, but it helps knowing who did it and that they have him.”

NOLA.com reported that Johnson Street had two grandchildren and spent most of her time taking care of her 7-year-old grandson.