Mid-Missouri man admits to shooting, killing son-in-law

A Mid-Missouri man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his son-in-law.

Friday, Donald Bateman, 68, pleaded guilty to first degree murder in Moniteau County Court for the death of Antoine Johnson,43, in California last September.

He is now sentenced to life without parole.

In court, Moniteau County Prosecutor said it started when a water heater in the home began leaking, and Bateman and Johnson started arguing about how to fix it. The prosecutor said Bateman went into his room, grabbed a gun and fired two shots at Johnson.

Johnson was taken to the hospital and later died from the gunshot wounds.

In a plea agreement with the prosecution, a second charge of armed criminal action against Bateman was dropped. The prosecutor said part of the deal was to also drop the death penalty, if he admitted what he did.

The prosecutor read two statements from the victim’s family in court. In one, Johnson’s wife, who is also Bateman’s daughter, said she was hurt by Bateman’s actions against, “a man that cooked for you, cleaned for you, took you to your doctor’s appointments and literally carried you after your double amputation.”

“I’ve been prosecuting for about five years, and was in law enforcement for about 10 years before that, and this is maybe one of the most senseless acts I’ve ever seen,” Moniteau County Prosecutor Shayne Healea said. “Mr. Johnson was standing in the living room with his wife and a 4-year-old. Really a selfless act when he saw Mr. Bateman coming at him with a gun he shoved his wife and the 4-year old out of the way.”

After the hearing, Johnson’s mother told Abc 17 News she finally has some closure. She said it doesn’t bring her son back, but justice has been served. And she said the family can now have time to heal.

Bateman did not address the family or make a statement in court.