Jury selection begins in trial of John Fitzgerald Johnson, known as 'Grandmaster Jay'

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jury selection began Monday in the federal trial for John Fitzgerald Johnson, the leader of a black militia group who goes by the name "Grandmaster Jay."

Johnson, who leads the group NFAC, returned to Louisville to stand trial at the federal courthouse on Monday.

Johnson was arrested for allegedly pointing an assault rifle at Louisville Metro Police officers and federal officers on Sept. 4, the night before the 2020 Kentucky Derby. (Recall that in 2020, the Kentucky Derby was held in September in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.)

The incident took place while various groups were protesting at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville. Those groups said they were demonstrating because they felt the Kentucky Derby should not be taking place when no criminal charges had been filed in connection with the death of Breonna Taylor.

At that time, LMPD officers at the scene received a radio transmission stating that a group of "six to eight heavily armed individuals" were parked on Armory Place, near a parking garage, according to court documents.

Surveillance images allegedly showing John Johnson (Grandmaster Jay) pointing rifle at officers. — Surveillance images that federal authorities say show John Johnson (Grandmaster Jay) pointing a rifle at officers. (Source: Probable Cause Affidavit / FBI)

Two federal officers and three LMPD officers then went to the top of the nearby Jefferson County Grand Jury Building to watch the group, but were blinded by a flashlight when they leaned over the roof, the affidavit claimed.

Prosecutors said the flashlight was attached to the barrel of a rifle Johnson was pointing at the officers.

Johnson currently faces two federal charges: one count of "Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding" and one count of "Brandishing a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence."

Related stories: