Miami police officer died from pulmonary thromboembolism, medical examiner says

Officer Aubrey Johnson Jr. joined Miami Police Department in 2015

Miami Police Officer Aubrey Johnson. (Miami Police Department)

MIAMI – A report obtained Monday from the Miami-Dade medical examiner’s office listed pulmonary thromboembolism as the cause of death for Miami Police Officer Aubrey Johnson Jr., who died last week.

The verification of death report stated that the pulmonary thromboembolism occurred due to deep vein thrombosis, decreased mobility and a right leg injury.

Recommended Videos



The manner of death was listed as accidental.

Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina confirmed last week that Johnson, 28, had died Thursday evening.

“He made a phone call to his family and by the time they arrived, he was unconscious,” Tommy Reyes, president of the Miami Fraternal Order of Police, told Local 10 News.

Reyes confirmed that Johnson injured his foot two weeks while running after a narcotics suspect.

Miami police later said Johnson tore his right Achilles' tendon during that incident.

“He was treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital, was prescribed pain medication, and was discharged,” Miami Police Officer Kenia Fallat said in a news release.

Johnson was taken to Jackson North Medical Center Thursday night, where he died.

Reyes said Johnson coached a children’s football team and was the son of a retired high ranking Miami Police Department staff member and a retired police dispatcher. He said those who knew Johnson loved him tremendously.

“His classmates from the Academy and the people he currently works with, they are torn to pieces because they say he was such an amazing person,” Reyes said.

Johnson had served with the police department since 2015.

His viewing is scheduled to take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Mitchell Funeral Home Chapel in Miami, and his funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Miami Gardens. He will then be buried at Caballero Rivero Dade North in Opa-locka.

Johnson, who is the 40th Miami police officer to die in the line of duty since 1915, is survived by his parents and siblings.


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.