Springfield man to serve six years in prison for driving aggression incident in 2023

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – A Springfield man accused of threatening a motorist with a gun in 2023 has pleaded guilty and will serve a six-year prison sentence.

According to online court documents, Tyrese Antuan Johnson, 25, pleaded guilty on June 28 to three counts:

• Unauthorized use of a weapon
• Armed criminal actions
• Forgery

As part of a plea agreement, Johnson will serve a six-year prison sentence for these charges.

A probable cause statement states that in July 2023, the Springfield Police Department (SPD) responded to a call in which the victim reported that a blue Dodge Avenger was following him.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the victim’s girlfriend, mother and two brothers were passengers in the car when the Avenger pulled up next to them near Chestnut Expressway and National Avenue. A passenger in the back seat of the Avenger, later identified as Johnson, yelled at them, but the victim said he couldn’t understand what was being said.

According to the documents, the Avenger continued to pursue the victim while driving until Johnson leaned out the window and pointed a gun at the victim.

Police later stopped the Avenger and spoke with the driver, who denied knowing there was a gun or following the other car. According to court documents, SPD officers found 9mm ammunition and a pistol with an extended 24-round magazine.

The probable cause statement states that when questioned by police, Johnson stated that he did not point a gun at anyone and refused to provide the identity of the gun owner.