Man charged in rare New Lenox murder threatened witnesses from jail, officials say

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Will County judge is putting limits on who a Harvey man can contact ahead of his trial for a deadly 2020 shooting in New Lenox.

The recent ruling means that while 20-year-old Kevin Johnson awaits trial, his access to outside contacts has been limited to a pair of family members.

The move came as authorities said jail communication records show Johnson has been contacting witnesses in the case. He was accused of telling them he knows where they live and, in some instances, threatening them with physical harm.

Johnson was charged with the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Carles Baird at a New Lenox gas station in May 2020. The Herald-News reports the killing was the first homicide in the village in 20 years.

He has also been accused of discussing the shooting, his involvement in it and urging the brother of a key witness to plead the Fifth Amendment when trial begins in late January 2025.

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