On 1/17/2018, Detectives from the Bates County Sheriff’s Office followed up on a lead in reference to two horses that were shot and killed on 12/24/2017. The lead took the Detectives to Garden City Missouri. The suspect in the shooting was at the police department for an unrelated case. Detectives interviewed the suspect at the Garden City Police Department in reference to the shooting. Information received from the suspect lead the Detectives to request that the suspect be turned over to the custody of the Detectives. The suspect was identified as David Hugh Johnson W/M DOB 8/15/1962 a resident of Garden City Missouri. Johnson was transported to the Bates County Detention Center.
Johnson is the adult son of the property owner where the horses were shot. Johnson was charged this evening with two counts of Felony Property damage for the intentional death of the two horses. Detectives will continue to work with the Bates County Prosecutor’s Office to file additional charges related to weapons offenses and abuse of an animal.
Johnson is currently being held in the Bates County Detention Center on a $9,000 cash or surety bond.
The Bates County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Garden City Police Department for their assistance in the arrest of Mr. Johnson.
