On the afternoon of October 2, 2021, in a residential neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri, the life of 23-year-old Johnnai S. Owens was tragically cut short. She, along with two companions, Devon Key, 24, and Kanen Wheaton, 24, were fatally shot in what police have described as a triple homicide. The incident occurred just before 4 p.m. near the intersection of 27th Street and Spruce Avenue.
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they discovered the three victims unresponsive, and they were all pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
The investigation into the killings quickly pointed to a targeted attack. Eyewitnesses reported that a black SUV, later identified as a Chevrolet Traverse, approached the victims, and its occupants opened fire. This information was corroborated by surveillance footage from the area that captured the vehicle with a Missouri license plate. The suspect or suspects fled the scene immediately after the shooting, leaving a community in shock and investigators with the task of piecing together the events that led to the brutal slayings.
Within days, the investigation led to a significant breakthrough. Police located the suspect vehicle parked in the driveway of a residence and initiated surveillance. This led to the arrest of the first suspect, Lucas Baker. During questioning, Baker, who was found with the keys to the Traverse, initially denied his involvement in the shooting but later admitted to driving the vehicle and firing at the victims' legs. His confession implicated a second individual, Joshua Bell.
Further investigation of Bell's cell phone uncovered a video recorded on the day of the murders from the passenger seat of the Chevrolet Traverse. The video showed a person holding an AR-15 style rifle, and a distinctive tattoo of dice on the individual's left forearm was visible. When investigators interviewed Bell, they observed the same tattoo on his arm. Following his arrest on October 8, 2021, Bell denied being at the scene or witnessing the shooting.
Both Lucas Baker and Joshua Bell were subsequently charged in connection with the triple homicide. Bell faced three counts of second-degree accessory murder, four counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. Baker was charged with three counts of accessory murder, four counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The case against them was built on a combination of witness testimony, surveillance evidence, and the digital evidence recovered from their personal devices.
