A Poplar Bluff man was found guilty Thursday by a Butler County jury for his involvement in the shooting of another man.
Kayln Trasell Johnson was found guilty on the offenses of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to Butler County Prosecutor Kacey Proctor, who tried the case in front of 36th Circuit Presiding Judge Michael Pritchett, along with Assistant Prosecutor Dwight Warren.
The case came as the result of a shooting on the afternoon of Jan. 14. 2020.
Earlier reports state Poplar Bluff officers responded around 3:55 p.m. on that date to 1312 N. Main St. to a report of someone being shot in the head.
Upon his arrival, Sgt. Dusty Johnson was directed to the location of Ernest Taylor, who was found laying face down in front of the residence.
“At trial, the State called the victim in the case, who testified that the defendant, Kayln Johnson, was living with him and his girlfriend, who was the mother of Johnson,” Proctor said in a news release.
“He further stated that on the afternoon of the 20th, Johnson returned home and pulled out a .22 revolver and began firing at him while he was seated in a chair watching television,” Proctor added.
The victim reportedly was struck six times, including once to the back of the head.
“Immediately following the shooting, the defendant ran from the house and the victim walked out the front door of the home and collapsed on the sidewalk,” Proctor said.
At the trial, another witness reported driving by and hearing gunshots, Proctor said, and saw the defendant run out of the house.
That same witness also saw the victim come out of the home and collapse and made the initial 911 call.
A third witness at the trial, Proctor said, reported Johnson “came to his house immediately following the shooting and told him that he had just shot the victim.”
That witness contacted law enforcement and told them Johnson was there.
Police Lt. Josh Stewart responded to the witness’s home, where he found the revolver used in the shooting.
At the time, a gunshot residue test on the defendant was confirmed positive.
At the trial, Johnson testified “he shot the victim six times because the victim was trying to attack him,” Proctor said, while admitting the victim was unarmed.
Johnson will be sentenced by Pritchett on Oct. 26 and faces 30 years on the assault charge, a minimum of three years on the armed criminal action charge and 10 years on the unlawful possession of a firearm charge.
“I would like to thank the Butler County jury for their service, as well as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Warren for trying an excellent case,” Proctor said. “Finally, I would like to congratulate the Poplar Bluff Police Department for a job well done.”