The Gunman Who Fired on Police and Vanished Has a Shocking Identity

On a warm September day in Millis, Massachusetts, an unknown man called in a bomb threat to the middle school and then shot at a police cruiser, causing it to crash and catch fire. As residents locked down in fear, a massive multi-town manhunt began. But one witness — a mailman — would lead law enforcement to the shocking and difficult truth.

This is Small Town Phantom: the Bryan Johnson story.

Millis, Massachusetts

Millis is a small but storied town nestled within Norfolk County, about 20 miles southwest of Boston. It's home to approximately 8,500 residents who enjoy its beautiful suburban neighborhoods, sports fields, and tight-knit community. According to Niche.com, Millis is one of the best places to live in Massachusetts.

I'm proud to say that I was born and lived there until I was 27 years old. Millis is part of my DNA, and it's an incredibly safe place to live. As a young teenager I remember sneaking out during sleepovers to ride bikes through town in the middle of the night, feeling the cool wind on our faces as we navigated the pavement's imperfections, completely carefree. Other than petty vandalism or a cat-in-a-tree, crime isn't something we're used to thinking about or experiencing in Millis.

But as we know, terror can strike anywhere and at any time. And on September 2nd, 2015, my hometown's peaceful dream would be broken.

A Young Officer's Rise

It's a hazy August night and the Millis select board meeting is about to start on time at 7:00 p.m. sharp. In attendance is Police Chief Keith Edison, joined by veteran officers as well as a young up-and-comer representing the next generation to wear the badge in town — a part-time officer and former dispatcher by the name of Bryan Johnson.

At just 24 years old, Johnson excitedly awaits the board's decision on moving him to full-time. Despite the summer air that lingers even well into the night, he wears a dark suit with a purple tie and prepares to hear about his future. He's a 2009 graduate of Millis High School, and after earning his criminal justice degree from Western New England University in Springfield — about an hour and a half west of Millis — Johnson returned to serve its residents in uniform.

The board approved his full-time employment status and Bryan couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He thanked his family and Chief Edison and called the board's decision "a blessing."

Bryan Johnson had graduated high school, earned a college degree, and put in the work to become a town cop. It was time to head out into the field to protect and serve.

September 2nd, 2015

September 2nd was a routine workday for Johnson. It was the first day of school. He started his shift at 7:00 a.m. and was assigned to traffic enforcement at the joint middle and high school building area. My mom was working as a crossing guard at the time and actually spoke to him that morning. She said he seemed energetic and in good spirits. At the end of their short conversation she said, "Be careful out there." These words would become eerily prophetic as the day's events unfolded.

Johnson was supposed to end his shift at 11:00 a.m. But two menacing phone calls came in during the late morning and early afternoon hours — one to the high school, and a bomb threat called into the middle school. His shift was extended as a response to the threats. Both schools were closed and students sent home.

With their children returned safely, middle and high school families felt a sense of cautious relief. Many of them thought it was probably just a prank or some lunatic trying to stir up chaos.

But just before 2:30 p.m., a call came in over the police radio:

The Scene on Forest Road

Fellow officers rushed to the intersection of Forest Road and Birch Street, lights blaring and engines roaring. Upon arrival they found Bryan Johnson's cruiser in the woods just off the road, engulfed in flames, with Johnson visibly upset and out of breath.

Here are the details as Johnson recounted them: He was driving west on Forest Road when he encountered a maroon pickup truck blocking the road. As he approached, he noticed the driver clearly displaying a black handgun out the window. The driver fired two shots, piercing the cruiser's windshield. Johnson sped past the truck and attempted to turn the cruiser around to give chase, but lost control, launching forward and crashing into the woods. He exited his vehicle and fired three rounds at the fleeing truck, which quickly disappeared.

Johnson was taken to Norwood Hospital as a precautionary measure. As per protocol, a fellow officer relieved him of his duty weapon. Upon the arrival of lead investigators from the District Attorney's Office, Johnson cooperated by agreeing to accompany them to Forest Road, where he provided a detailed and articulate account of the events.

Lockdown

The incident triggered an extensive law enforcement response involving local police, state troopers, and other assets. Our sleepy suburban town was soon filled with SWAT teams, helicopters, canine units, and police officers armed with assault rifles. Residents were instructed to stay indoors while areas were cleared.

The suspect was identified as a Caucasian male with a tan complexion, aged 25 to 40, armed with a black handgun. It wasn't known if he was still in the area or if he had sped off into a neighboring town.

I was living in North Carolina at the time, just two years into a new career, feeling completely helpless as I followed news reports, read stories online, and frequently checked in with my parents about what they were seeing and hearing. For two full days, thousands of people in Millis, the surrounding towns, and loved ones on the outside looking in remained on edge as police searched on the ground and in the air for a suspect and a maroon pickup truck that seemingly vanished.

The Mailman

A significant turn in the story occurred when a mailman became a critical witness.

While delivering mail on Forest Road that afternoon, the postal worker had heard several gunshots but didn't initially find it alarming, as occasional shots were not uncommon in that part of town. I do take slight issue with this account — as a longtime resident of Millis, I can say it would be quite uncommon to hear gunfire anywhere in town. However, I'm not overly familiar with that part of town, and it is heavily wooded, so it is possible.

Continuing on his route, the postal worker later recounted to investigators that he veered off the main road, heading down a long driveway and into the woods near a house tucked away from view. Approximately 70 yards from his location, he spotted a Millis police cruiser parked along a dirt road, where an officer was kneeling beside it. Initially he assumed the officer was just taking a break.

The mailman didn't think to contact police until word spread throughout town that there had been an alleged attack on a police cruiser.

The Interrogation

Armed with this new information, Trooper Brian Tully — a lead investigator for the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office — and Lieutenant Gerard Matano, his co-investigator, brought Johnson back for a more rigorous interrogation. They posed a critical question: why did a mailman witness a Millis police cruiser deep in the woods, in a spot that was just half a mile away from where Johnson said the shooting had occurred?

When they resumed, Johnson now admitted to being in the woods where the mailman had spotted him. According to this new version, he had paused to relieve himself, eat a protein bar, and check his phone. He recounted seeing the truck and hearing a gunshot after re-entering his cruiser, followed by a complex narrative involving accidentally shifting the cruiser into reverse, seeking cover from gunshots, and attempting to pursue the truck.

Notably, he failed to activate his lights, sirens, or radio dispatch during any of this.

Matano confronted Johnson, highlighting discrepancies between his earlier narrative and this revised version. Johnson cited his deviation from procedural protocol as the reason for his unusual actions and why he had initially told a different story. Throughout the exchange, Johnson attempted to attribute his confusion to the adrenaline of the experience. After once speaking with such clarity and accuracy, he now struggled to articulate the emotions and thoughts he had experienced during the incident.

Matano remained unconvinced. Johnson once again requested to speak to his union rep, prompting detectives to end the interview.

But just 20 minutes later, they were back in the room together. And Bryan Johnson said it:

The Truth

It was all a lie. There was no truck, no shooting, no danger. He made the whole thing up.

Johnson disclosed that in the woods he discharged his weapon three times — twice into the windshield and once into the rear of the cruiser. He retrieved one of the bullets but left the other two behind. Afterward he returned to the cruiser and proceeded onto Forest Road, but crashing had not been part of his plan. Johnson thought he may have blacked out, only regaining consciousness after he collided with the tree. It was at this point that he made the radio call and fired his weapon three more times down the street — seemingly toward the imaginary truck.

Before Johnson was taken to the hospital, another officer had seized his service weapon. But the officer missed Johnson's personal 9mm handgun, which was tucked into his belt. Investigators later located the gun hidden in Johnson's garage. Ballistic testing confirmed it was the gun used to fire the shots and stage the attack.

The Phone Calls

Johnson explained to detectives that he had been dealing with some negativity around the station for a few weeks about a relationship he was having with a senior at Millis High School. This became a sensitive issue when a sergeant advised him to end things, stating that a 24-year-old dating a high school girl didn't reflect well on Johnson or the department.

Trooper Tully asked if this plan could have been an attempt to improve his standing with his peers and within the department. To this, Johnson said, "I guess that's a good way to describe it."

When pushed further on a motive — a reason why he would have done this — Johnson replied with just one word: attention.

Tully then asked if Johnson had made the threats to the schools. "No sir," Johnson replied. The topic was set aside. But it was later confirmed that he had made those threats.

The Aftermath

The following day, Millis police publicly announced the hoax. Johnson faced a series of charges and was terminated from his position. He sought treatment for an undisclosed condition.

Sergeant Dwire — the man from the press conference — acknowledged that something was amiss with Johnson, but said it didn't alter his personal feelings toward him.

A week later, Johnson appeared at the Wrentham District Court to face charges, where he was swarmed by reporters. He wore the same black suit and purple tie from his appearance before the selectmen in August. He was indicted. The possibility of decades in prison loomed.

On Thanksgiving morning, at around 3:30 a.m., Bryan Johnson was discovered in his bedroom by another resident in the home after tragically taking his own life. A private funeral took place. No obituary was published. The charges were dismissed, the case files were put away, and the town began its normal strides once again.

The Town's Response

Soon after the event was discovered to be a hoax, the town came out of lockdown and showed their appreciation and support to the Millis Police Department for everything they did to respond to a perceived threat and keep the town safe.

That was the theme as hundreds of Millis residents stopped to thank their police.

Why

Years have passed and this story has fallen into the deep archives of stories and cases that have popped up since. But this one has stayed with me. It's followed me, and every now and then I think of it and wonder — as I always will — why.

Why did a young man who was so full of promise, who was achieving his goals, and who had no record of any such behavior make this baffling decision that saw his life fall to pieces in a single afternoon?

Was it all for respect, as the detective suggested? Was it for attention, as Johnson said himself? Or was there something else going on beneath the surface that finally overcame him?

We'll likely never know. But whatever the reason, I wish Bryan and his family peace, and I hope I retold the story faithfully and respectfully.