On the evening of May 31, 2020, law enforcement officers in Kansas City, Missouri, were dispatched to a residence in the 8800 block of Crystal Lane following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival at the apartment complex, police discovered a male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. First responders from the Kansas City Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services attended to the individual, but he was declared deceased at the scene.
The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office subsequently ruled the death a homicide.
The victim was identified as 27-year-old Anthony Ford Jr., also known as Anthony J. Ford II. Investigators learned from witnesses that Ford had recently returned to the apartment and was walking toward a bathroom when he encountered a man named Damon Johnson. According to witness statements provided to authorities, Ford and Johnson engaged in a verbal argument that quickly escalated into a physical confrontation. One witness reported that during the altercation, Ford swung his fist at Johnson. In response, Johnson allegedly ducked to avoid the blow and then fired two shots at Ford before fleeing the apartment.
Following the incident, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office announced charges against 22-year-old Damon Johnson. He was charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with Ford's death. On June 1, 2020, the day after the shooting, Johnson surrendered to police at the Kansas City Police Department headquarters, accompanied by his attorney. At the time of the charges, prosecutors requested a bond of $200,000.
