Suspect robbed, hit crime victim before leading police on chase in KC

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Court documents have revealed new information about a shooting at a Kansas City gas station that left one person dead.

A probable cause affidavit filed in Circuit Court in Jackson County, Missouri, indicated Lorenzo C. Johnson, 31, of Kansas City, was caught on security footage committing the crime.

Surveillance footage showed that on Wednesday, August 21, just after 8:45 p.m., Michael Deehan, 33, the victim, arrived at the BP gas station at 3319 Linwood Blvd. in his red Nissan Versa before parking at the pump.

Also pulling into the parking lot was a gold Lincoln Town Car that had been seen at the scene of several armed robberies that had occurred less than two hours earlier. It is believed to have been occupied by Johnson during the robberies as well.

Cameras captured Johnson exiting the vehicle as he began to struggle with Deehan before getting into the victim’s car. Deehan could be seen trying to hit Johnson before Johnson got out of the vehicle again. This time, Deehan backed away as Johnson pointed a firearm and shot him in the head.

Before Johnson drove out of the parking lot in Deehan’s vehicle, the footage also showed him backing up over Deehan’s body and speeding away. Around 10:55 p.m., the stolen vehicle was seen parked near 31st and Spruce Ave., about nine blocks away from the scene.

Law enforcement said they attempted to make contact with the occupants, Johnson and a white woman, however, he was seen holding a gun and attempting to point it at them before speeding away.

Court documents noted that law enforcement officers continued to pursue Johnson before he lost control of the vehicle and crashed near E. Linwood Blvd. and Jackson Ave. The woman fell and ran as Johnson again reached for his firearm before a marked patrol vehicle pushed the Nissan over so he could be safely taken into custody.

However, court records showed the same marked patrol vehicle was not put into park and hit the Nissan again, which deployed the airbags. This allowed Johnson to regain control of the stolen vehicle and drive off the curb and then north on E. 31st St. He led law enforcement officials on a chase through the city before rear-ending the vehicle in a median on Van Brunt. Blvd. near I-70, about a mile from where it was originally seen.

Law enforcement indicated that Johnson fled as they continued to pursue him in their patrol vehicles. He was finally arrested just after 11 p.m

As of Friday, Johnson remains behind bars with no bond listed and no court appearance.

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