Suspect charged with murder in Midtown Kansas City stabbing
A Kansas City man was charged with murder in connection with a fatal stabbing in Midtown last week, court documents show.
Johnny X. Holmes, 36, was charged in Jackson County Circuit Court Wednesday with one count of second-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action, according to online court records.
Officers with the Kansas City Police Department responded to a reported cutting around 6:45 a.m. on 34th Street and Broadway Boulevard June 12. They found a man dead in a parking lot with multiple chest and neck wounds.
Police later identified the man as 62-year-old Jerry Terry.
Terry was found by a group of people after he had died, according to police. Those who found him could not give suspect information, police said.
According to a probable cause statement, police did not find any defensive wounds on Terry’s body, which pointed to a surprise attack.
Surveillance footage in the area allegedly showed Holmes and Terry walking separately near the crime scene shortly before the murder. The killing took place outside of the camera’s range of view, court documents said. Terry’s body was later found where Holmes was allegedly seen walking back from, police said in a probable cause statement.
The suspect, who was allegedly seen in surveillance footage and was later identified as Holmes, walked with a distinctive gait, dragging his right leg, which had an outward-turned right foot.
What the court documents say
When Holmes was arrested, blood was allegedly visible on his shoes, court documents said.
In a search of Holmes’ apartment, court documents say detectives allegedly found two black sweatshirts and three pairs of gray pants, which appeared to match the clothing items the suspect was seen wearing at the time of the homicide. One pair of sweatpants allegedly had blood spatter, according to court documents.
Police allegedly also found several knives, one with visible blood, according to court documents.
Prosecutors allege a blood sample from Holmes’ shoes came back positive for Terry’s DNA, court documents say.
Suspect has an outstanding assault warrant
Detectives searched a report-writing system for similar violent assaults. They linked Terry’s killing to other incidents in the area, according to court documents.
According to court records, Holmes has an outstanding warrant for assault in Kansas City Municipal Court. The Kansas City warrant is issued in connection with an incident in July 2024 when a man was attacked with a hammer. The incident was allegedly unprovoked and had a similar pattern to the June 12 killing, police said in court documents.
Holmes failed to appear in municipal court July 22, 2024, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
A municipal court spokesperson said if convicted, Holmes and his attorneys could ask the court to have sentences for murder and assault run concurrently.
Holmes is being held without bond. No court dates have yet been scheduled, according to online court records.
This story was originally published June 18, 2025 at 11:11 AM.
