Business

A former Kansas City, Missouri, police officer is now charged in the fatal shooting at a Northland Walmart parking lot Wednesday afternoon.Tequiza V. Johnson, 47, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action for fatally shooting Ronald Barnett, 71.According to the Kansas City Police Department, Johnson worked for the department from December 2003 until February 2014.Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd said surveillance video captured the entire incident in the parking lot.He said after an apparently minor confrontation that wasnt physical, Johnson shot Barnett and then fled the scene in his car without helping Barnett.Zahnd also said the video captured the license plate number on Johnsons car, which led to his arrest.It was really tremendous work by the Kansas City Police Department and the Missouri Highway Patrol, who went to the scene and located the defendant very quickly, Zahnd said.He also said a search warrant uncovered a gun with the same caliber bullets used in the shooting, as well as clothes Johnson had changed out of, which he appeared to be wearing during the incident.Its a really difficult thing for people to process when someone pulls out a gun based on what appears to be a relatively minor altercation, Zahnd said.Court records show Johnson has a pending lawsuit claiming he was victimized by a KCPD officer.According to that suit, Johnson claims he mistakenly went to the wrong address for a home repair job but then found the correct place.The suit says after Johnson was done and leaving his job, a KCPD officer pointed a gun at him and improperly detained him.If convicted of the charges against him, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.Ive been the prosecutor here for 22 years, and anytime something like this happens, its shocking. This is not what people expect when theyre going to a Walmart, Zahnd said.Johnson is being held without bond at the Platte County Jail in protective custody.