Man Sentenced 17 Years for Livestreamed Attack on Arizona DCS Worker

Deandre Johnson was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison for attempting to murder a Department of Child Safety caseworker in Mesa, Arizona, during a Facebook livestreamed attack. The incident occurred in November 2024 after the caseworker interviewed Johnson's daughter alone as part of an investigation, which angered Johnson. Johnson ambushed the caseworker from behind, placing him in a chokehold for about two and a half minutes until he lost consciousness, and resumed choking him upon realizing he was still breathing. Witnesses tried to intervene, and Johnson subsequently attempted to intimidate them before fleeing the scene; he was arrested hours later following a police pursuit. Johnson was convicted of attempted first-degree murder, disorderly conduct, and unlawful flight from law enforcement. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell condemned the attack, emphasizing the severity of livestreaming such violence against someone protecting children.