Suspect robbed, ran over murder victim before leading police 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 statement filed in the Jackson County, Missouri, Circuit Court indicated that Lorenzo C. Johnson, 31, of Kansas City, was caught on security footage as he committed the crime.

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

A gold Lincoln Town Car which had been seen at the scene of multiple armed robberies that had occurred less than two hours before also entered the parking lot. It had allegedly been occupied by Johnson during the robberies as well.

Cameras caught Johnson exiting the vehicle as he began to fight with Deehan before he got in the victim’s car. Deehan could be seen attempting to hit Johnson before Johnson exited the vehicle again. This time, Deehan backed up as Johnson pointed a firearm and shot him in the head.

Before Johnson exits the parking lot in Deehan’s vehicle, footage also revealed he backed up over Deehan’s body and sped 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 officials said they attempted to make contact with the occupants, Johnson and a white female, however, he was seen brandishing a gun and attempting to point it at them before he sped away.

Court documents noted that law enforcement officials continued to chase Johnson before he lost control of the vehicle and crashed near E. Linwood Blvd. and Jackson Ave. The woman bailed and ran as Johnson reached for his firearm again before a marked patrol vehicle pushed the Nissan so he could be safely arrested.

However, court records revealed that the same marked patrol vehicle was not properly put in park and hit the Nissan again which deployed the airbags. This made it possible for 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 across the city before he bottomed the vehicle out on a median on Van Brunt Blvd. near I-70, about a mile away from where he was originally spotted.

Law enforcement officials indicated that Johnson bailed and ran as they continued to chase 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 set.