Rep. Frederica Wilson gets death threats after phone call controversy; FBI investigating

Flowers, American flags mound on Sgt. Johnson's grave; questions remain

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – It has been three days since the body of Sgt. La David Johnson was laid to rest at a cemetery in Hollywood.

His grave site is topped with a mound of flowers, American flags and photos of the slain soldier, who was killed earlier this month, along with three other U.S. troops, during an ISIS led firefight in Niger.

"We're gonna go through every last length to try to satisfy the concerns or answer their questions," Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said. 

As that investigation intensifies, another one is heating up on the home front surrounding death threats made against U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Florida.

CLICK HERE to donate to a GoFundMe campaign for Sgt. La David Johnson's children

A Facebook post with the lawmaker's picture read, "need ten good men to help carry out a lynching. Must have own horse & saddle. Rope will be provided."

The racially charged message posted late last week and went viral after it sparked a wave of concern among many people who flooded the phone lines of the police department in Des Plaines, Illinois, where the post was made under the name Tom Keevers.

 Local 10 News was unable to verify the owner of the account, but the station has learned police have talked to the man who made the post and their info is now in the hands of the FBI and the Capitol police.

A second post on that same account suggests the lawmaker be quote "punched in the throat."

All this after the congresswoman publicly criticized the president's handling of a condolence call to Johnson's widow, Myeshia.

Wilson said his words were insensitive.

The president says it was respectful and he repeatedly called Wilson wacky. 

 Myeshia Johnson appeared on Good Morning America on Tuesday and said "Whatever Ms. Wilson said was not fabricated. What she said was 100 percent correct."

Meanwhile, Johnson's legacy remains on the mind of those within the community.

Red ties were given to 250 minority students from Miami-Dade County Tuesday night, which inducted them into a program that will inspire them to become leaders and do great things. 

The program is 5,000 Role Models of Excellence, which was launched almost 25 years ago by Wilson, who helps mentor at-risk children. 

La David Johnson was one of the people she helped in that program. 

During the ceremony the issue of Trump's comments were discussed by some attendees. 

"It is who our president is," Rev. Richard Paul Dunn said. "He has led, and created an atmosphere of hate." 


About the Authors:

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

Louis Aguirre is an Emmy-award winning journalist who anchors weekday newscasts and serves as WPLG Local 10’s Environmental Advocate.