Dubuque Police Charge Suspect in Homicide Investigation

Date: 02/24/23
Contacts: Lieutenant Brendan Welsh, (563) 589-4473
                  Assistant Chief Joe Messerich, (563) 589-4411

DUBUQUE, Iowa – Dubuque Police Investigators have filed a charge in the February 7th shooting death of 31-year-old Lonnie E. Burns of Dubuque.  Based on information and evidence gathered in the weeks following the murder, police received approval from the Dubuque County Attorney’s Office to charge 25-year-old Aaron C. Johnson, of Chicago, IL, with 1st-degree murder for the death of Burns.  A warrant was subsequently issued for Johnson’s arrest.  

With assistance from the United States Marshal Service, Johnson was located and arrested on February 23rd in Chicago, IL, by the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.  Johnson is currently in custody in Illinois and is being held on a $1.5-million-dollar bond.

This investigation is still ongoing, and no additional details can be released at this time. 

Murder in the first degree is a class “A” felony punishable by life in prison.   

As with any criminal case, the charges filed are allegations and any suspects are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law. If you have any information on this incident or others, please call the Dubuque Police Department at 563-589-4415. You can also submit tips anonymously online at www.cityofdubuque.org/police or through the MyDBQ smartphone app available at www.cityofdubuque.org/MyDBQ.