Bryan Stalder
Contributor

Authorities say a violent series of events on the morning of Monday, Dec. 22 left one woman dead and another injured, leading to multiple felony charges against a Kansas City man tied to a Northeast area address.

Jackson County prosecutors have charged Leonard J. Johnson, 54, with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action following incidents that unfolded at separate locations across the city.

Police were called just after 10 a.m. to the area near 27th Street and Quincy Avenue after reports of a stabbing. When officers arrived, they found a woman suffering from stab wounds while inside a vehicle. She was taken to a local hospital and treated for injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

Investigators say the woman told police she had been with Johnson earlier that morning after he agreed to let her borrow his car. She reported becoming alarmed when Johnson began using drugs and asked to be taken home. Instead, the vehicle stopped, and she was attacked. The woman was able to flee and seek help from a nearby home.

As officers continued their investigation, they went to Johnson’s residence in the 6600 block of East 16th Street. There, police reported seeing blood evidence and a knife in plain view inside a parked vehicle. Johnson was found nearby with blood on his clothing and hands and was taken into custody without resistance.

While at the residence, officers discovered the body of 52-year-old Sherrie Baier inside the home. She had suffered multiple stab wounds. Police said Baier was in a long-term relationship with Johnson.

Family members told investigators the relationship had spanned years and had been marked by previous incidents of violence, according to court documents.

During questioning, Johnson allegedly made inconsistent statements to detectives, at times admitting responsibility for Baier’s death before later denying involvement. He also reportedly referenced an argument involving both women earlier in the day.

Johnson is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

Prosecutors say the case is the 20th domestic violence-related homicide in Kansas City this year, a figure that represents a sharp increase compared to the same period last year.