State’s Attorney Glasgow Announces Kevin Johnson Found Guilty of First Degree Murder (Joliet, IL) – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announces that Kevin Johnson, 21 of Harvey, was found guilty of First-Degree Murder (a Class M felony) following a six-day bench trial before Circuit Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak that concluded on March 18, 2025. Sentencing and post-trial motions are scheduled for May 21, 2025.
On the evening of May 10, 2020, the victim, Charles Baird was at the Circle K gas station in New Lenox purchasing a beverage. While Baird was in the gas station, a stolen black Santa Fe parked next to his vehicle and an individual attempted to open Baird’s locked passenger door. As Baird returned to his vehicle, the defendant exited the backseat of the Sante Fe and confronted him. Video surveillance obtained from the gas station showed Baird turn to run back towards the store when the defendant pulled out a handgun and fired a fatal shot into Baird’s back. The defendant then re-enters the Santa Fe and fled the scene. During the investigation, officers discovered that the black Santa Fe used in the murder was stolen out of Lockport the day prior. The defendant’s DNA was located in the vehicle on a cigarette butt found in the rear pocket of the driver’s seat where the defendant was observed on video sitting prior to shooting the victim.
Johnson is eligible for a sentence of 45 years to life in the Department of Corrections. However, due to Johnson being a juvenile at the time of offense, he may be eligible for a sentence of no more than 40 years in prison.
Glasgow thanked Assistant State’s Attorneys Christine Vukmir, Katie Rabenda, Lauren Senko, Jon Walters, Investigators Patrick Cardwell, Shawn Filipiak, Louis Silich, Mark Revis, and Scott Lustik, Victim Witness Advocate Dannette Pasdertz, Administrative Assistants Nancy Nelson and Kendall Ziech, Intern Max Glover, IT Specialists Albert Bailey and Braulio Guzman, and the New Lenox Police Department for their hard work and dedication in this matter.
State’s Attorney Glasgow Announces Kevin Johnson Found Guilty of First Degree Murder
