Former Kansas City police officer charged with murder in shooting at Northland Walmart

A man charged with murder in a fatal shooting near a Northland Walmart on Wednesday was a former Kansas City police officer for about a decade, according to a Kansas City police spokesperson.

Taquiza V. Johnson, 47, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of 71-year-old Ronald Barnett.

Johnson was an officer with the Kansas City Police Department from December 2003 through February 2014, and was last assigned to the patrol bureau, said Captain Jake Becchina, a spokesperson for the department.

After leaving the police force, Johnson was the owner of Getit2gether Repair, a traveling electronics repair business based in Leawood, according to court records.

Police said the shooting happened just before 4:30 p.m. in a Walmart Supercenter parking lot near shops at the Boardwalk Shopping Mall. There, officers found Barnett with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead just before 5 p.m.

Surveillance video allegedly showed an interaction between the two men before Johnson shot Barnett, according to court documents. According to an affidavit filed on Thursday, Johnson made an inflammatory gesture while walking past Barnett’s car on the way out of Walmart, after which the two interacted outside Barnett’s car.

Surveillance footage showed that Johnson had purchased two cans of beer via self-checkout before leaving the store.

After Barnett parked his car, Johnson drove up next to him in a black Jeep Renegade, according to court documents. Barnett approached Johnson with his hands behind his back, at which point Johnson allegedly shot him with a pistol.

Law enforcement identified a suspect vehicle and arrested Johnson at an apartment complex about eight minutes after his license plate had been broadcast to Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers. Court documents allege Johnson had told his wife he had gotten into an altercation at the Walmart.

Evidence recovered at the scene of the shooting suggests that Johnson shot into Barnett’s car, as a hole was found in the vehicle with a bullet in the backseat.

A firearm was discovered in a black Nike bag at the foot of Johnson’s bed during his arrest, according to court documents. Johnson also appeared to have changed clothes between the shooting and the arrest.

After Barnett fell, Johnson walked away without attempting to help him, according to Thursday’s affidavit. The shooting was witnessed by numerous people, according to court documents.

“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.”

Johnson is being held without bond.

According to its manufacturer, the type of pistol Johnson used — a Glock .22 — is the most commonly used type of service weapon for American police officers.

The shooting was the 96th homicide reported in Kansas City this year. There were 133 homicides reported at the same time last year.