On the evening of August 21, 2024, a violent sequence of events unfolded at a BP gas station located at the intersection of Linwood Boulevard and Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. Michael J. DeHaan, a 33-year-old White male, was at the pumps refueling his red Nissan Versa around 8:45 p.m. when a tan Lincoln Town Car pulled into the lot. The Lincoln had reportedly been involved in a string of armed robberies and aggravated assaults earlier that evening.
A man exited the vehicle and approached DeHaan, initiating a physical confrontation near the gas pumps.
Surveillance footage from the station captured the struggle that ensued between the two men. The assailant, later identified by authorities as Lorenzo C. Johnson, managed to climb into the driver’s seat of DeHaan’s vehicle. DeHaan attempted to intervene and eject the stranger from his car, but as he backed away, Johnson produced a firearm and discharged it, striking DeHaan in the head. In a final act of brutality before fleeing the scene, Johnson reversed the stolen Nissan Versa, running over DeHaan’s fallen body as he sped away from the station.
Emergency responders arrived to find DeHaan suffering from critical gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead, marking the city's 97th homicide of the year. In the wake of the tragedy, investigators learned that DeHaan was a registered organ donor, a wish his family honored. He left behind an 11-year-old daughter and was remembered by his family for his work in construction and his willingness to help neighbors.
Law enforcement located the stolen Nissan Versa later that same night, initiating a multi-mile pursuit. During the chase, the driver reportedly reached for a weapon multiple times before the vehicle came to a stop. The suspect fled on foot but was ultimately apprehended by police. Lorenzo C. Johnson, 31, was taken into custody and held without bond.
Prosecutors in Jackson County subsequently filed a litany of felony charges against Johnson in connection with the fatal carjacking. These charges included second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, and multiple counts of armed criminal action. Court documents indicate that a jury trial for Johnson has been scheduled to begin on December 15, 2025.
