DailyKenn.com — Ronald "Ron" Dean Barnett, 71, was fatally shot in Kansas City, MO.
Taquiza V. Johnson, 47, is being accused of Felony Second Degree Murder and Felony Armed Criminal Action.
Kansas City police described the shooting as avoidable and Platte County prosecutors labeled it as “equally tragic and disturbing.”
Johnson is accused of fatally shooting 71-year-old Ronald Barnett outside a Walmart.
According to court documents, the incident began with a brief confrontation in the parking lot before the shooting occurred. Surveillance footage reportedly shows Johnson exiting the store and walking through a crosswalk where Barnett was driving. Johnson is seen extending his arm toward Barnett’s vehicle.
Investigators say the video shows Barnett reversing his car, stopping, and then getting out. Johnson then walked toward him. The interaction between the two men lasted about 20 seconds before Barnett returned to his vehicle, and Johnson walked back to his own car.
After Barnett parked, the court documents state he began walking toward the Walmart entrance. Johnson then drove in Barnett's direction, got out of his vehicle, and when Barnett approached him, Johnson allegedly shot Barnett once and left the scene.
Barnett was transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his gunshot wound. The shooting occurred less than two minutes after the initial encounter between the two men, according to the charging document.
KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino commented on the incident, saying, “At 4:30 after work, in a Walmart parking lot, you can imagine this place was full. There could have been a worst-case scenario on top of what is already a tragic scene. So, for that, we’re fortunate. These things are avoidable, a lot of this is preventable. I don’t know many things that are worth pulling out a firearm over, ending someone’s life, or risking getting your life ended.”
Johnson was formerly an officer with the KCPD from December 2003 to February 2014, with his last assignment in the Patrol Bureau.
• Ronald "Ron" Dean Barnett
Img link:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/gunmemorial-media/photo/494432.jpg
Img source:
https://gunmemorial.org/2024/08/21/ronald-ron-dean-barnett
Taquiza V. Johnson
Img link:
https://gray-kctv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RBHHBGF3WFEAXIAKRVZKW4S4RE.jfif?auth=fa7717b19a53f3ed3cbe194b7f62e13d49813a75e602084d6abd6067f6594bcb&width=1300&height=729&smart=true
Img source:
https://www.kctv5.com/2024/08/23/not-guilty-plea-entered-former-kansas-city-officer-charged-deadly-shooting/
[Man charged with murder in confrontation outside Northland Walmart, By Andrew Lynch, fox4kc.com, Aug. 22, 2024]
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