Tamara Johnson and Jason Johnson, suspects in a fatal shooting during a botched robbery at an ATM drive-thru in Worth, Illinois, have been charged with first-degree murder. The two suspects have been linked to a month-long crime spree in the south suburbs and northwest Indiana. Lorraine Swanson reported
In Worth, Illinois, two suspects have been apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting of a 31-year-old single mother during a botched robbery at an ATM drive-thru. Tamara Johnson, 22, and her friend Jason Johnson, 23, appeared before Judge Linzie Jones on Wednesday, facing a first-degree murder charge. The suspects had spray painted their orange-red Lexus a different color the day after the incident in an apparent attempt to disguise it. The Johnsons have been linked to a month-long crime spree across the south suburbs and northwest Indiana, with arrest warrants following their trail. It is unknown if the two are related or married.
The incident occurred on Saturday at around 3:30 p.m., when the victim, Jonnie Angel Klein, went to use the drive-thru ATM at Chase Bank in Worth. Surveillance footage from the bank captured an orange-red Lexus pulling into an interior lane. Tamara Johnson, wearing all black with a zipped-up hooded jacket and a black mask, exited the passenger side of the Lexus and approached Klein’s gray Honda Civic. A struggle ensued, as evidenced by the shaking of the Civic, before it sped off. Tamara then returned to the Lexus with a handgun visible in her hand, along with the dark mask. During the struggle, Jason Johnson was seen exiting the Lexus, his face captured on camera. He was also wearing all black with a zipped-up hoodie and reddish colored gloves.
Despite being gravely injured, Klein managed to drive onto 111th Street before the car slowed down and stopped. A witness who saw the stopped car pulled over to check on the driver and found Klein unresponsive. Worth police responded within 78 seconds of the 911 call, but Klein was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Police found a .45 caliber spent shell casing, a Chase receipt, and cash inside Klein’s car. The Cook County Medical Examiner determined that Klein’s cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest, ruling it a homicide.
Images of the suspects’ Lexus were sent to area police departments, leading to their apprehension the following day in Posen. Posen police observed orange-red paint underneath new blue spray paint on the Lexus, indicating an attempt to alter its appearance. Underneath the blue paint, red-orange paint was visible, and underneath that, white paint. Tamara and Jason Johnson were the only occupants of the vehicle when it was stopped, and their cell phones were recovered. Inside the Lexus, police found a black face mask similar to the one worn by Tamara during the robbery, as well as a black hoodie and reddish gloves matching their attire in the surveillance video. Additionally, a box of .45 caliber ammunition and a .45 caliber semi-automatic firearm were discovered, with pictures of the alleged murder weapon found on Tamara’s phone, clearly showing the serial number.
Further investigation revealed that the Johnsons were also connected to other crimes, including an armed robbery in Hammond, Indiana, where Tamara pointed a gun at a woman and took her cell phone. Warrants were issued for their arrest in Lake County, Indiana, for armed robbery. Jason Johnson’s Lexus was found to contain a 60-round capacity rifle and unopened Newport cigarettes believed to be stolen in an armed robbery at a gas station in Wheatfield, Indiana. In this robbery, a woman and two men were involved, with one of the men wearing red gloves and carrying a rifle. A white Lexus was also used in the crime, leading to warrants for Jason and Tamara’s arrest.
The .45 caliber gun found in the Lexus was test-fired and matched the casing found in Klein’s vehicle. Tamara was also seen posing with the same weapon in pictures on her phone. Cell phone data indicated that Tamara was at various locations in Chicago, including Jason’s brother’s house. Additionally, Tamara was placed at a Home Depot in Homewood, where Jason’s family food truck is parked, and later at Jason’s father’s address. Blue spray paint was found in the alley behind his father’s house, and a can of gloss white spray paint and painters tape with blue paint were discovered in a garbage can, along with red-orange drops inside the can. Jason had blue paint on his jeans when he was arrested.
During the court hearing, Judge Jones deemed the evidence “clear and convincing” that the defendants committed the crimes they were accused of. He noted that the fact that both suspects had painted the car after the shooting demonstrated a consciousness of guilt. Both Johnsons were ordered to be detained and their Indiana no-bail arrest warrants executed. They are scheduled to appear in court on November 28 for the Chase case..