CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Mentally ill man found not guilty in 2015 attack on children at Lenexa playground

Kansas City Star - 1/28/2017

Jan. 27--A 22-year-old man who attacked and injured several children at a Lenexa playground was found not guilty Friday because of mental illness.

Javon Lockett was charged with injuring three children and endangering more than a dozen others during the March 2015 incident.

He has been in custody since the attack, which occurred at a playground near his home in the 9200 block of Boehm Drive.

Lenexa police said the children suffered cuts, bruises and scratches to their faces, arms and hands. One child reportedly suffered a concussion when he was knocked face-first onto the pavement.

After the attack, Lenexa police received calls that a man in the area was pointing a gun at people and throwing rocks at cars.

Officers arrested Lockett after a short foot chase and recovered an airsoft pistol.

Lockett's lawyer, Carl Cornwell, said Friday that Lenexa police showed "tremendous discretion" in handling the situation without it escalating into something much worse.

On Jan.19, Johnson County District Judge Sara Welch heard evidence against Lockett presented by prosecutors, as well as the opinions of two mental health experts.

Both experts agreed that Lockett was experiencing a schizophrenic episode at the time of the incident.

Based on the evidence, the judge on Friday found that because of his mental disease or defect, Lockett was incapable of forming the criminal intent required to convict him of the crimes.

Welch ordered him committed to the Larned State Hospital for evaluation. The hospital's chief medical officer was ordered to report back to the judge within 90 days.

"It is a really, really sad case," Cornwell said. "Fortunately, he has a family that loves him and will do whatever is necessary to help him."

Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc

___

(c)2017 The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.)

Visit The Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Mo.) at www.kansascity.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.