photo by: Lawrence Police Department

Lawrence police released a video of an incident in which a gun was fired at people from a moving vehicle. In this screenshot from the video, the driver of the vehicle can be seen moments before his arrest.

A Lawrence teenager who was charged with firing a gun at two pedestrians in downtown Lawrence entered a no contest plea to the charges on Monday.

Treyvon D. Johnson, 19, was convicted in Douglas County District Court of two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The case relates to an incident on Aug. 28, 2022.

Johnson’s co-defendant, Jaden Lamar Lenny Hall, 18, of Lawrence, faces two felony counts of aggravated assault with a handgun and one felony count of flee and elude, according to charging documents. He is next scheduled to appear in court on April 4 for a status conference.

As the Journal-World previously reported, the Lawrence Police Department released a video of the incident from the dash camera of an officer’s patrol vehicle. The officer was parked around 1 a.m. at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St. when a white Volkswagen Passat passed in front of him on 11th Street with a person leaning out the window and firing a gun. The officer pursued the vehicle and was able to pull it over and arrest the passenger and driver in the 600 block of Maine Street without further incident.

photo by: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Treyvon D. Johnson

Witnesses told police that Johnson was firing at two pedestrians with whom he and Hall had an argument. No one was injured during the incident.

The video of the incident was released on social media the following Monday with a warning: “Criminals: Please do not run. Do not drive by an officer while shooting a gun and hanging out the window. We will catch you. We will arrest you.”

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez released a statement about the incident shortly after the police department’s post objecting to the use of the word “criminals.”

“By law, despite what may be circulating across social media or in the press, the individuals depicted in those recordings remain innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law, not a court of public opinion,” Valdez said in the release.

Police Chief Rich Lockhart responded to the DA’s statement by praising the work of his officers.

“Our team is committed to transparency as part of our ongoing efforts to build trust with our community,” he said in a brief news release. “I am extremely proud of the professional men and women in our department who work hard to help keep us all safe and secure every day.”

During Johnson’s hearing on Monday, Judge Stacey Donovan accepted Johnson’s plea and said that he would be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years. She said that while the firearm charge comes with a presumptive prison sentence, it would be up to her whether to impose a prison sentence or to grant Johnson probation.

Donovan then scheduled Johnson’s sentencing date for April 24. Johnson is currently out of custody on a $10,000 surety bond, and Hall is free on a $4,000 surety bond.