The son and daughter of a man shot and killed in a Walmart parking lot in Platte County last Wednesday are outraged. The suspect in the case is a former police officer. Takiza V. Johnson, 47, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action for shooting and killing Ron Barnett, 71. The 71-year-old Barnett's family is speaking out less than a week after his death. “He was trained. He knew better. He was trained to de-escalate and take control of the situation. And he didn't,” said Barnett's daughter, Elizabeth Moon. Moon's brother echoed her sentiments in an interview on Monday. “I love police officers, but I'm angry that he was a police officer,” said Ron Barnett's son, John Barnett. Johnson served as a Kansas City, Missouri, police officer from Dec. 10, 2003 to Feb. 25, 2014. He was last assigned to the Patrol Bureau. Moon was dropping off her daughter Mallory at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville when she found out her father was missing and not answering his phone. “He always answered the phone, no matter where he was or what he was doing, and he didn't. So I just immediately panicked,” Moon said. She then called her brother, John Barnett, who went to the bowling alley where her father was and found out he was gone. Moon then found a social media link that showed his SUV at the scene of the Walmart shooting. Kansas City Crime: Ex-Kansas City Cop Charged with Murder (kmbc.com) John Barnett said his diabetic father went to Walmart to pick up his medication. He doesn't understand how his father could be a threat to others. “He was 71 years old. He could barely walk. He could walk, but it was slow. It was really slow. He was 71 years old. He wasn't the kind of guy who could run a marathon. “It's just so horrible, I have no words,” John Barnett said. According to investigators, surveillance cameras captured the entire incident, which lasted about three minutes. Johnson came out of Walmart while Ron Burnett was driving his daughter's SUV. Johnson touched the car and exchanged a few words. After Ron Burnett parked the SUV, Johnson returned and confronted him. Ron Burnett's family said Johnson fired one shot at Ron Burnett, with the bullet passing through Burnett and through the rear gate of the SUV. Investigators removed the bullet from the back seat. “I don't want my car back. I can't imagine being in that car knowing that bullet went through my father and hit my car,” Moon said. Johnson is suing Kansas City, Missouri, police officers for wrongfully detaining him at gunpoint. “If he was really treated like that, he definitely knew it was worse,” Moon said. Johnson's Missouri state police license expired after five years of inactivity. He is scheduled to appear in court next week for a bail hearing. Ron Burnett leaves behind three brothers, two sisters, four children, 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, with a 16th great-grandchild due to be born in October.
The son and daughter of a man shot and killed in a Platte County Walmart parking lot last Wednesday are outraged.
The suspect in this case is a former police officer.
Takiza V. Johnson, 47, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Ron Barnett, 71.
The 71-year-old man's family are speaking out less than a week after his death.
“He was trained. He knew better. He was trained to de-escalate and take control of the situation. And he didn't,” Barnett's daughter, Elizabeth Moon, said.
Moon's brother agreed in an interview on Monday.
“I like police officers, but it pisses me off that he was a police officer,” said John Barnett, Ron Barnett's son.
Johnson served as a police officer with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department from December 10, 2003 to February 25, 2014. He was last assigned to the Patrol Bureau.
Moon was dropping off her daughter, Mallory, at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville when she learned her father was missing and not answering his calls.
“He was always on the phone no matter where he was or what he was doing, and he wasn't answering his phone, so I immediately panicked,” Moon said.
Then she called her brother, John Barnett.
He went to the bowling alley his father used to go to, only to find that his father was gone.
Moon then found a social media link that showed his SUV at the scene of the Walmart shooting.
Kansas City Crime: Ex-Kansas City cop indicted on murder charges (kmbc.com)
John Barnett said his father, who has diabetes, went to Walmart to buy medicine.
He cannot understand how his father could be a threat to anyone.
“He was 71 years old. He could barely walk. He could walk, but slowly. Very slowly. He was 71, he wasn't someone who could run a marathon. It was so bad, I'm at a loss for words,” John Barnett said.
Investigators say the entire incident was recorded on surveillance camera, lasting about three minutes.
Johnson had just left Walmart and Ron Burnett was driving his daughter's SUV.
Johnson interacted with the vehicle and exchanged a few words.
After Ron Burnett parked the SUV, Johnson returned to confront him.
According to Ron Burnett's family, Johnson fired one shot at Ron Burnett, with the bullet passing through Burnett and the rear gate of the SUV.
Investigators removed a bullet casing from the back seat.
“I never want my car back. I can't imagine being in that car knowing that a bullet went through my dad and hit my car,” Moon said.
Johnson is suing, alleging that he was falsely detained at gunpoint by Kansas City, Missouri, police officers.
“If he was honestly treated that way, then he certainly should have known better,” Moon said.
Johnson's Missouri state police license expired after five years of inactivity.
He is due to appear in court next week for a bail hearing.
Ron Burnett is survived by three brothers, two sisters, four children, 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, with a 16th great-grandchild due to be born in October.