Kansas City man charged with murder in fatal shooting at Northland Walmart parking lot
A man has been charged with murder in a fatal shooting near a Northland Walmart Supercenter this week, according to court documents filed Thursday.
Taquiza V. Johnson, 47, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 71-year-old Ronald Barnett.
The shooting happened just before 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Kansas City police said, in a parking lot near shops at the Boardwalk Shopping Mall. Officers found Barnett with a gunshot wound and he was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The shooting was the 96th homicide reported in Kansas City this year, according to data collected by The Star. At this time last year, 133 homicides had been reported in the city.
What happened in the shooting near Walmart
Video surveillance from the Walmart allegedly showed an interaction between the two men before Johnson shot Barnett, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“We allege this defendant shot someone in broad daylight in the parking lot of a major retailer,” Eric Zahnd, Platte County prosecuting attorney, said in a release. “That is equally tragic and disturbing.”
As Johnson was leaving Walmart, Barnett’s vehicle drove past him and Johnson made a motion toward the vehicle, the affidavit said. Barnett backed up, stopped, and then exited his vehicle. Johnson walked up to Barnett’s vehicle, then walked away, according to the affidavit.
Barnett then parked his vehicle and was walking toward the Walmart entrance when Johnson drove up beside Barnett’s parked vehicle.
Barnett then walked toward Johnson as he stood at the rear of his vehicle with his hands behind his back. Two seconds later, the affidavit said, Johnson allegedly shot Barnett. After Barnett fell to the ground, Johnson left the scene without trying to help Barnett, the affidavit said
Barnett was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:59 p.m.
Witnesses, a shell casing and an arrest
A Speer .40 shell casing was recovered from the scene and investigators found a bullet hole in the hatch of Barnett’s vehicle. According to court documents, a bullet was recovered from the rear passenger seat.
Numerous witnesses described the suspect as a Black male driving a black SUV, the affidavit said. After reviewing video surveillance from the Walmart, investigators confirmed the suspect vehicle was a black Jeep with a Missouri license plate registered to Johnson, the affidavit said.
Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers found the Jeep at an apartment complex within eight minutes after the plate information was broadcast, the affidavit said. Johnson was taken into custody, allegedly wearing different clothes than at the time of the shooting.
According to court documents, a search warrant of Johnson’s apartment recovered clothing matching the description of what Johnson was wearing at the Walmart and a .40 caliber Glock handgun loaded with Speer .40 caliber rounds.
Police spoke with Johnson’s wife outside the apartment, the affidavit said, and she allegedly told officers that when Johnson got home he told her he got into a confrontation at Walmart.
As of Thursday afternoon, Johnson is in custody without bond. No hearings have yet been scheduled for the case.
