A jury trial continued Wednesday for Jaikorian Johnson, the teenager charged with the 2020 murder of 15-year-old Corban Henry. The most significant testimony came from the lead detective about how the investigation led to Johnson being charged. The defense questioned why Johnson was the person arrested when witness reports and other tips indicated the other person may have been the shooter. Five people also gave testimonies primarily regarding forensic analysis related to the two cell phones and two handguns recovered.
Everyone who testified Wednesday was called by Daviess County Commonwealth’s Attorney Bruce Kuegel. Ramon McGee, who is representing Johnson in the case, was able to cross examine each person. Those testifying included members of the Owensboro Police Department and Kentucky State Police.
For a recap from the first day of the trial, click here. For a recap from the second day of the trial, click here. Brief recaps from each testimony on day three can be found below.
Testimony from OPD’s Chris Brown
Brown is an electronic forensic examiner for OPD. He was tasked with examining cell phones related to the incident, one labeled as being Johnson’s and one labeled as being Logan Clark’s. Brown said he was only able to do a partial extraction of information that included some user information, photos and possible messages. He was able to confirm the phones belonged to Johnson and Clark as labeled.
Brown further said they were able to find a video on Clark’s phone, and that it was a Snapchat that was received on Aug. 12. He said they are not able to determine when the video was filmed nor where it was sent from.
The video, which lasted about 8 seconds, was played without sound to the jury. As described in a later testimony from OPD’s Joshua Alsip, the video showed a person identified as Johnson holding a handgun, and then showed another person identified as Clark also holding a handgun.
Brown also said that on a later date he examined a third phone, believed to belong to the driver of the moped, using the same process. He said they did not find anything of evidentiary value to the case.
Testimony from KSP forensic analyst Megan May
May performed DNA analysis on the two handguns that were found in a bag during the search of a residence on Werner Avenue. She said the lab never received a request to do any analysis on the airsoft pistol recovered from Henry’s waistband.
In short, she said that of the DNA that was identifiable it could be determined that Clark contributed some DNA to the SCCY pistol recovered and Johnson contributed some DNA to the Taurus pistol recovered. May said she could not determine one way or the other if either person contributed DNA to other guns due to various factors such as there being too little or there being mixtures of 2+ individuals.
May said she received the items on Sept. 18, 2020, and started the analysis on Oct. 19. She finished her report, which is required to be reviewed by two other individuals on Oct. 29. The final review was completed on Nov. 23, which May said was a below-average turnaround time for cases during that time period.
May said the analysis does not determine how the DNA got on the weapon nor how long it had been there.
Testimony from KSP forensic chemist John David Clem
Clem is a forensic chemist at KSP. He said he analyzes trace evidence such as gunshot residue (GSR). Clem said GSR, which must be collected within four hours of gunfire due to its ability to be washed off or transferred, can easily transfer from person to person. He said GSR can be found on someone who fired a gun, was near gunfire, or handled a weapon that has been fired.
Clem said he analyzed GSR kits for the driver of the moped, as well as for Johnson and Clark. He said particles were found on all three individuals, also noting that the number of particles is not an accurate way to determine if the person actually fired the weapon.
Testimony from KSP forensic analyst Lawrence Pilcher
Pilcher specializes in firearm identification. He said the spent bullet and five casings found during investigation matched the Taurus that was recovered. He said an evidence technician first received the evidence on Sept. 21, 2020. Pilcher started the case on April 23, 2021, and completed his report on May 3. He said the evidence was returned to the submitting agency on Jan. 13, 2022.
Pilcher said he is not part of the investigation in terms of determining who fired the weapon or any other circumstances.
Testimony from KSP forensic latent fingerprint analyst Bridgett Ogden
Ogden said she completed two separate examinations looking for latent fingerprints on both pistols. She was unable to find any prints of value either time.
Testimony from OPD’s Josh Alsip
Alsip is a juvenile detective and has served as lead detective on this case. In summary, he tied together many of the testimonies that had occurred up to that point. He also said that despite some tips pointing toward Clark as being the shooter, Johnson was arrested because his DNA was found on the gun that was fired among other reasons.
Alsip said he was first called about the shooting at approximately 10:30 p.m. Aug. 15, 2020, and arrived at the scene of where the body was found around around 11 p.m., at which time Henry had already been pronounced dead. Alsip said the driver of the moped was transported to the OPD station.
Alsip said as he was examining the body and the casings, he heard over the police radio that a Sheriff’s Office deputy was heading to Werner Avenue to search for possible suspects. Alsip said he was advised that two individuals matching the suspect descriptions were found at Werner, so he told OPD officers to transport the two individuals to the station.
Alsip said at that time, he still did not know the names of the individuals involved and had little information beyond the evidence collected and the initial witness accounts. Johnson and Clark were released to their families that night but were still considered suspects.
Alsip said at the time of release, there was nothing tying the guns back to the suspects. Johnson and Clark were not charged with anything at that time.
The next day, the forensic analysis of the cell phones began, according to Alsip. Detectives also followed leads and canvassed the area to see if they could uncover any more information.
Alsip said that on Dec. 2, 2020, he received the first crucial piece of evidence back — the DNA analysis on the handguns. However, he said that was still not enough to move forward with charges because there was not yet confirmation that either gun had been used in the shooting. Alsip also later said Johnson’s fingerprints were found on the bag that the guns and other items were found in.
He said that confirmation came on May 4, 2021, when the ballistics analysis came back. That analysis showed that the spent bullet and five casings found during investigation matched the Taurus that was recovered — and Johnson was the only person confirmed to have contributed DNA to that gun.
Johnson was brought in by OPD and charged on May 4, 2021.
Alsip also noted that in the video footage from the Super A, Johnson was seen wearing cargo pants. Alsip said a similar pair of cargo pants was found at the house where Johnson was found, though he said Johnson was not wearing the shorts and had also put on a hoodie that he was not wearing in the video.
Upon questioning from the defense, Alsip said a witness reported seeing two suspects, and that the suspected shooter was taller and skinnier than the other individual and had dreads. That witness also testified Tuesday, when he gave the same account as he did in the initial report.
Alsip said photos were taken within hours of the shooting. He said Johnson had short hair and was shorter than Clark.
McGee asked if, as of the morning of Aug. 16, the identification they had of the shooter actually matched Clark, and Alsip testified that it did. Alsip said they also received other tips in the hours and days after the shooting saying that Clark was possibly involved.
McGee then turned to questions about two girls who spoke to OPD officers on Aug. 17 and claimed to be with Henry and the driver of the moped shortly before the incident. Alsip referenced the officer’s notes but said he did not speak with either girl, saying the notes do not necessarily mean the claims are true and are only a report of what was said.
According to the notes, the girls claimed Henry and the driver of the moped had planned to go to Smothers Park when they left on the moped. Alsip said if that was true, there would not necessarily have been a need to get off 4th Street and get on 5th Street. Alsip said the driver of the moped told officers they were not going to Smothers and were instead going to Henry’s house, which Alsip said could reasonably have included a path along 5th Street.
According to the notes on the report from one of the girls, there had been some sort of running conflict between Henry and Clark. Alsip said there was no mention of conflict between Johnson and Henry or the driver of the moped.
McGee questioned if a running conflict is an important part of investigation in determining motive for an incident and Alsip said yes. Aslip said his team followed up on the information about a potential conflict “to the best of our ability” and Alsip said they were unable to determine if it was or was not the reason the two parties came into contact with each other on Aug. 15.
McGee then returned to questions involving the guns. Alsip said he doesn’t know when the firearms were put in the bag or who put them in there.
Mcgee asked if it was possible to get DNA on a weapon without firing it and Alsip said yes. McGee asked if it was possible to hold a gun and not leave DNA but Alsip said he has not been involved in such a case.
McGee then asked questions clarifying that OPD had gotten a witness identification that more closely matched Clark and that multiple social media posts and tips saying Clark was involved, to which Alsip replied yes.
McGee clarified that Johnson’s DNA on the gun was not enough on its own to press charges, and Alsip said that was correct, adding that the charges were brought after it was confirmed that gun was used during the shooting.
We’ll continue to provide updates as the trial continues.
