Two charged in shooting death of Toledo man

4/14/2011

Two men have been charged in connection with the shooting death of Charles Harris, Jr., who died just after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday outside the garage where he stored his lawn care equipment in the Scott Park neighborhood.

Kenneth Anderson, 29, 917 Forest Ave.,was charged with aggravated murder and Thomas Johnson, 21, 3265 Glenwood Ave., with tampering with evidence. Johnson was in custody in the Lucas County Jail Thursday night; however, Anderson remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous, according to Sgt. Tim Noble.

Robbery was the motive for the shooting, authorities said.

Mr. Harris’ daughter, Karen Harris, said she had spoken to Mr. Johnson shortly after the killing and had no idea he was involved.

“I’m very excited because I thought ... nothing would ever happen,” she said.

She said police told her last night that Mr. Johnson told them where they could find her father’s stolen wallet and that he and Mr. Anderson had thrown the murder weapon “into the river.”

Mr. Harris, 71, was shot twice in the head in an alley near Nebraska Avenue, said Dr. Diane Barnett, Lucas County deputy coroner.