‘I Want It To Be Over’ Mom Says As New Lenox Murder Trial Delayed Again

WILL COUNTY, IL — The trial of a Harvey man charged in the 2020 fatal shooting at a New Lenox gas station has again been pushed back, this time while attorneys pursue claims of a supposed alibi witness.

Kevin Johnson, now 20, was 16 at the time of the slaying, and has been in custody on a $2.5 million bond since being charged with murder in the shooting death of Charles Baird, a 19-year-old New Lenox resident.

Johnson's attorney Jason Strzelecki told Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak in November 2023 that his client had an alibi witness, and that he would locate that person—who has reportedly been living out of state and recently returned to Illinois—soon.

Baird was shot at a New Lenox Circle K gas station in May 2020 when police said that a car, which had been stolen two days earlier from Lockport, pulled up to a gas pump near where Baird’s car was parked. Police said that while Baird was inside the gas station, an occupant from the stolen vehicle tried to open the door of Baird’s car, in an attempt to steal it. Baird’s car was locked, police said, and when another person approached him, words were exchanged and Baird was shot in the back. He was taken to a local hospital, but died two days later from his injuries. Police have said that Baird was able to describe the suspect before he died, and that they have video of the shooting. Baird's mother also contends there was another person in the car who pointed to Johnson as the shooter.

"We are ready for this to go to trial to try and put this nightmare behind us and try to move on without our Charlie," Jennifer Baird told Patch in November. "He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and we need some sort of closure to what happened."

Baird's mother said the attorney was to have provided documentation to Assistant State’s Attorney Christine Vukmir by early December, and that requirement has not been fulfilled.

"The continued delays are because the public defender is dragging their ass on this case," Baird told Patch. "Like it’s not an important one—it’s important to me."

Baird called the claims of an alibi witness "just more BS."

"Where was this person 3-1/2 years ago?" Baird said to Patch in November. "Right now, I think he’s grasping at anything to get him out of what he did.

Baird said Vukmir told her it was possible the trial might not start until September or October, as she is "bombarded with murder trials" before then.

Johnson—who remains in the custody of the Will County Sheriff—late last year used a condition of the SAFE-T Act, permitting those detained while awaiting trial to petition for pretrial release. A detention hearing is then held to determine if the detainee could be release pending trial. Pretrial release may be denied "when it is determined that the defendant poses a specific, real and present threat to a person, or has a high likelihood of willful flight," according to the legislation.

Judge Bertani-Tomczak denied Johnson's motion.

In November 2022, Johnson asked for a reduction in bond to $500,000. He agreed at the time that he would pay $50,000 and live with his grandmother if released. He also agreed to wear an electronic monitoring device as a condition of his release. That request was also denied.

Baird said she needs to see a conclusion to the trial sooner than later. Baird said the next court date is set for

"I’m without Charlie every day," Baird told Patch. "We have been coming to pretrial dates every month since he was caught in July of 2020.

"I’m tired. I want it to be over, and justice for our kid."