KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — After testimony in a Kalamazoo courtroom today, a judge has decided to bound over an area man for the shooting death of 19-year-old Alex Johnson.
Gabreon “G.K.” Wells-Lindsey is facing charges of open murder, concealed-carry, and weapons felony firearm use after Kalamazoo County District Judge Richard A. Santoni ruled there was sufficient evidence to bind him to trial during preliminary testimony.
Several witnesses of the shooting took the stand during testimony on Friday, December 20th. A police investigation provided to the court states that officers were called to an apartment complex on Hidden Hills Drive in Kalamazoo, near the Western Michigan University, after reports of gunshots on Wednesday November 13th.
During the early hours of the morning, police say that an altercation took place between Wells-Lindsey and Johnson that escalated until gunfire was exchanged. By the time police responded at 1:26 A.M. they found Johnson suffering from a gunshot would and the suspect had fled the scene. Johnson later died from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.
After receiving a suspect description, officers were able to find and arrest Wells-Lindsey later that morning.
According to testimony, Johnson and Wells-Lindsey reportedly had been feuding throughout the day and had come to meet each other later that night at Johnson’s apartment. Both were previously students at Loy Norrix High School together.
Johnson’s roommate Lamont Goodman Jr. testified that the shooting victim was armed with a 9 mm handgun and handed it over to him, urging Wells-Lindsey to settle the fight physically without firearms.
That’s when six shots were fired at Johnson, hitting him in the lake and striking Goodman, who was later treated for his injuries and recovered. Goodman did not call police after getting shot, but departed the scene with another individual and a backpack loaded with guns and drugs.
Another roommate, Max Link, testified that he hid during the altercation and that he saw Johnson snort a line of cocaine during a time before the shooting. Shouts were heard before gunfire erupted, after which Link found Johnson unresponsive in the apartment’s bathroom on his stomach.
The case had been plagued by contradicting statements made by witnesses previously to police, including denying that there multiple people at the scene.
Due to the evidence presented, the judge ruled that Wells-Lindsey would be bound over to trial on circuit court charges.
