Endowment Established to Honor Columbia Mall Shooting Victim

A memorial fund honoring one of the Columbia mall shooting victims has been permanently established as an endowment, the Community Foundation of Howard County announced Thursday.

After the Jan. 25 double murder at the mall followed by the shooter’s suicide, there were two memorial funds set up in the names of the victims: Brianna Benlolo, 21, and Tyler Johnson, 25.

With the gifts from the fund that was temporarily set up for their son after the shootings, Howard and Nora Johnson decided to put the contributions into a permanent endowment.

The endowment will support nonprofit organizations that support addiction therapy, gun control legislation, mental health and other issues of interest to the Johnson family, according to a statement from the Community Foundation of Howard County.

Johnson, a recovering addict, volunteered at the Serenity Center in Columbia, a 12-step meeting place, where he was the youngest board member, according to his obituary. He was also a spokesman for the HC DrugFree program in Howard County.

“This fund will honor Tyler’s life and spirit and his legacy,” Howard Johnson said.

The 19-year-old who killed Tyler Johnson suffered from mental health issues but did not seek treatment, according to the Howard County Police Department. Johnson’s family said they hoped the fund would help increase access to treatment.

“There is a need for much better drug counseling and education as well as mental health services,” Howard Johnson said. “Our hope is that this fund will help organizations who are committed to supporting those initiatives and bring about change.”

Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Howard County