Harvey man found guilty of New Lenox 2020 murder of Charles Baird

A Harvey man sat impassively as a Will County judge told him Wednesday that she found him guilty of the 2020 murder of a 19-year-old man at a New Lenox gas station.

After the verdict was delivered, Kevin Johnson, 21, yawned as Will County sheriff’s deputies shackled him and prepared to take him away from the courtroom of Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak.

The judge found Johnson guilty of the May 11, 2020, first-degree murder of Charles “Charlie” Baird, 19, at the Circle K gas station in New Lenox.

Johnson will return to Bertani-Tomczak’s courtroom May 21 for sentencing.

Johnson was 16 at the time of Baird’s murder, which could affect how much time he’ll serve.

Illinois banned life sentences without the possibility of parole for most youthful offenders younger than 21 at the age of their offenses, according to a Feb. 25 article from Capitol News Illinois.

Johnson is eligible for a sentence of 45 years to life in prison, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Byrne.

“However, due to the defendant being a juvenile at the time of offense, he may be eligible for a sentence of no more than 40 years in prison,” Byrne said.

Jennifer Baird, the mother of Charles Baird, said she and her family are “extremely grateful” to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the police agencies for their work on the case.

After the verdict, Jennifer Baird cried and hugged Assistant State’s Attorney Christine Vukmir, who prosecuted the case alongside Katie Rabenda and Lauren Senko.

“Now we can sleep a little easier knowing that Charlie’s killer is going to be behind bars. Hopefully for a long time. I know it’s not life,” she said.

Jennifer Baird said she tried not to look at Johnson as she sat in the courtroom during the trial. She said if Johnson was being his “smug” self, she didn’t want to see it.

“[Johnson] has shown absolutely no remorse of what he had done. He tore a member of my family away from us. For what? A car? A car he didn’t get,” Jennifer Baird said.

Johnson and Marquez “Mac” Whitfield, 20, had arrived at the gas station in a stolen vehicle, according to trial testimony.

Whitfield checked to see if Charles Baird’s vehicle was unlocked, according to trial testimony. Charles Baird was inside the gas station store at the time.

When Charles Baird left the store, Johnson confronted him with a gun and then shot him in the back with a hollow-point bullet when he tried to flee, according to trial testimony.

Jennifer Baird said she wanted to know why Johnson had to shoot her son.

“He was running away from you, and you chase him and shoot him in the back? Why? What kind of monster does that? One who has no soul and doesn’t care about life,” Jennifer Baird said.

Bertani-Tomczak told Johnson on Wednesday that she was convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that he killed Charles Baird.

She said she based her decision on video and DNA evidence, as well as Johnson’s jail calls, in which he called Whitfield a “rat.”

Whitfield was the key witness against Johnson, and he was granted immunity in exchange for his testimony.

Bertani-Tomczak said Whitfield’s testimony was credible. Prosecutors said Whitfield’s testimony was corroborated by all other evidence presented in the case.

“His testimony tied everything together,” Bertani-Tomczak said.

After Johnson’s arrest in 2020, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann said the “long, drawn-out investigation” involved numerous agencies and required a “great deal of evidence processing, interviews and statements that were taken.”

“Our condolences go out to the victim’s family and friends. There is nothing we can say other than we did our very best, our department did their very best to bring justice for you,” Baldermann said in 2020. “And although it won’t bring Charlie back, hopefully it bring you some comfort.”