South Carolina family watch son's murder on reality show

Joann Johnson (left) was watching the Live PD episode on A&E when the film crew and the sheriffs came across the body of her son Benjamin (right) The mother of a 37-year-old man who was watching a live television program which followed police officers on duty suddenly realized with horror that he had been murdered

Joann Johnson (left) was watching the Live PD episode on A&E when the film crew and the sheriffs came across the body of her son Benjamin (right)

Joann Johnson (left) was watching the Live PD episode on A&E when the film crew and the sheriffs came across the body of her son Benjamin (right)

The mother of a 37-year-old man who was watching a live television program which followed police officers on duty suddenly realized with horror that he had been murdered almost in front of her eyes. 

Benjamin Johnson's mother Joann, from South Carolina, confirmed to NBC News she had been watching Live PD on A&E on Friday night when she saw her son's body on television.

Mrs Johnson told KDSK TV: 'When they turned it to the channel, and I seen that my son is laying on the ground.'

Speaking through floods of tears, Mrs Johnson said: 'The way they showed it on TV, that's wrong. For a parent to find out about their child...you don't do that.'

The show, which was launched last year, follows police departments around the country as they carry out their work on the streets.

Around 9pm on Friday they were in Columbia, South Carolina, when they came across a shooting.

Benjamin Johnson (pictured) was shot dead while his family watched on live television

The Live PD team was riding along with Richland County Sheriff's Department deputies when they got the call. They arrived at the scene as paramedics fought in vain to save Mr Johnson's life.

The A&E crew filmed the victim lying motionless outside a house as detectives searched for shell cases and other evidence. 

Mr Johnson, a father-of-four, was wearing the reflective vest he wore for his job as a garbage disposal operative but his face was not shown. 

The episode has not been uploaded onto the TV channel's website. It is not clear if it will be uploaded with Johnson's murder edited out

The episode has not been uploaded onto the TV channel's website. It is not clear if it will be uploaded with Mr Johnson's murder edited out

Nevertheless his mother recognized him and was heartbroken.

Lieutenant Curtis Wilson, from Richland County Sheriff's Department, said it was up to the show's producers to decide whether to air the footage of the victim. 

'We are not controlling the cameras,' he said.

His brother, Chris Johnson, told NBC affiliate WIS he heard about the shooting and added: 'When I ran up the scene, I seen yellow tape, and when I see that I already know, somebody gone, and I knew it was my brother.' 

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Mr Johnson was eventually pronounced dead at the scene - having been shot once in the upper torso - and the coroner notified his family.

Live TV's executive producer, David Doss, told NBC Mr Johnson's death was filmed inadvertently and he said as soon as they knew he was dead 'we moved our cameras out of there. We got off of that shot right away.'

Mr Doss also said 'some family members knew' of Mr Johnson's death 'long before the audience knew.'

He also pointed out they chose not to film as the deputies went inside the family home to console his mother.

Lt Wilson said a meeting was planned today to discuss whether to change the ground rules for future broadcasts.

Nobody has been arrested in connection with Mr Johnson's murder.

 

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