Rookie Posen Cop Lauded For Role In Nabbing ATM Homicide Suspects

WORTH, IL — A probationary Posen police officer was honored Tuesday evening before the Posen Village Board for his major role in the capture of two homicide suspects accused of gunning down 31-year old Jonnie Angel Klein last month at a Worth ATM.

Jason Johnson, 23, and his alleged accomplice, Tamara Johnson, 22, were both charged with first-degree murder. The pair are currently being held in Cook County Jail after a judge denied their release after both were deemed a community threat following a detention hearing at the Bridgeview Courthouse.

Police were on the lookout for a red-orange Lexus that was captured on security video pulling up in the drive-thru at the Chase Bank branch in Worth on Nov. 4. A woman, later identified by police as Tamara Johnson, approached Klein’s Honda Civic in the drive-thru. Video captured the Honda rocking as a struggle ensued when Tamara allegedly shot Klein in the chest. Jason Johnson’s face was also captured on the bank’s security camera, Worth police said.

Klein’s car rolled out of the drive-thru until it came to a stop, when a passerby called 911 because she was unresponsive.

Jonnie Angel Klein on her last birthday in December 2022.

The next morning, Posen Officer Eduardo Gonzales was on patrol when he spotted a blue Lexus that looked suspicious. The Lexus pulled into a food truck parking lot, where Jason Johnson’s father parked his food truck, ABC 7 Chicago reported.

"The paint kind of looked a little off, looked like[it was] painted with a hand roller," Gonzales said. "Beneath it a little bit of red. I knew from prior intelligence there was a vehicle used in a homicide and an armed robbery spree, and it was being painted different colors."

Prosecutors said during the pair’s detention hearing the Lexus had been used in a multi-state armed robbery spree and had been repainted from white to red to blue.

Trying not to look obvious, Gonzalez radioed for backup. Area police had been looking for a red Lexus sedan. He was sure the Lexus was the vehicle that had been used in the Worth ATM shooting.

"They're like, 'are you sure it's this car?' I'm like, 'it's this car,'" Gonzales told ABC-7 Chicago. "I said 'this is it. We've got to take initiative.'"

Illinois State Troopers soon rolled up, and the officers quickly moved in on the suspects.

Inside the Lexus, officers recovered clothing that matched the clothing worn by the suspects captured on the bank security video, according to the criminal charges. Police also found a box of .45 caliber ammunition and a .45 caliber handgun with a round missing from the 13-round chamber.

Police also claimed they found blue spray paint in the alley behind his father’s house, and a white spray paint can and painters tape with blue paint in a garbage can. Red-orange paint drops were also visible on the garage floor, and there was blue paint found on Jason Johnson’s jeans, prosecutors said during the pair’s detention hearing.

Gonzales has been with the Posen Police Department for six months. He was praised for his restraint and alert eye, as he was awarded the Gallantry Star, a medal given to police officers for acts of bravery in the arrest of persons who pose a community threat.

"I think about how the victim passed away; they just left her to die. I knew that these people were ruthless. They were able to get away with armed robberies, homicide. At least, they think so. I knew at that point I had to slow it down for my safety and public safety," Gonzales said.

Klein lived in Blue Island and was a single mother of a 15-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter. Her family said Klein worked tirelessly to provide for her children. She was also the main caregiver mother. Klein would have turned 32 this month.