Henry William Lorton, 36, of Owensville, was arrested at 10:20 a.m. on Sept. 14 by the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office on allegations of fatally stabbing Trey R. Johnson, 21, of Owensville, and wounding three others. Lorton is being held on a no-bond warrant in the Franklin County Adult Detention Facility for the incident that occurred on Sept. 13 in the 100 block of N. First Street.

According to the arrest warrant, Lorton is charged on allegations of second-degree murder, a class A felony, and three counts of first-degree assault, a class B felony, in connection with a Sept. 13 homicide investigation in downtown Owensville. Gasconade County 20th Circuit Judge Ada Brehe-Krueger signed the warrant.

Police Chief Scott Griffith said Monday that Owensville officers responded to a 1:28 a.m. call on Sunday for a possible stabbing. Upon arrival, three people were injured and one person was deceased.

“The death was treated as a homicide, and the Missouri Division of Drug and Crime Control was called,” Griffith said. “The investigation was given to them and assisted by the Owensville Police Department and the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office.”

Officers had a person of interest early Sunday morning, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) filed a Probable Cause (PC) statement the same day. Griffith said the PC only includes statements from Lorton and a witness who was with him.

“The victims’ identities and statements aren’t released as public record at this time in the investigation,” Griffith explained.

He added that both Lorton’s and the witness’s statements were enough for a PC to be filed.

According to the PC statement, the incident occurred in a parking lot located in the 100 block of N. First Street between eight people. During the altercation, Johnson was stabbed in the chest and later pronounced dead at the scene. Three other males sustained cutting wounds. One was transported to Mercy Hospital Washington and two were transported to Mercy Hospital St. Louis for medical treatment.

Lorton was identified as a suspect based on surveillance footage from a nearby bar/resaurant and clothing descriptions provided by witnesses. He was later located at his residence at 5:36 a.m. in the 1000 block of State Highway Y by the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office and MSHP officers, who transported Lorton to the Owensville Police Department.

During the execution of a search warrant at Lorton’s residence, investigators found items in his bedroom that appeared to contain blood stains, including a pair of shoes, a pair of blue jeans and a gray shirt.

According to the PC statement, MSPH investigators on Sept. 13 spoke with the unidentified witness, who claims to have been with Lorton during the evening of Sept. 12 into the next morning.

“(Witness) stated he and Lorton were involved in an altercation with six subjects. He stated he was struck by two individuals after he was confronted for throwing a beer bottle and striking a vehicle,” according to the MSHP probable cause statement.

Following the altercation, the witness said he and Lorton left the area in Lorton’s vehicle. The witness alleged that Lorton told him he believed he (Lorton) stabbed four people during the altercation. The witness described the knife Lorton used as a gray folding knife, and discussed what to do with the knife.

During a post-Miranda Rights interview, Lorton said he was at the scene and involved in the initial altercation.

“Lorton stated six individuals got out of the vehicle which was struck with the beer and he withdrew from the altercation. Lorton claimed the six individuals followed him and (witness) into the alley where the altercation occurred. Once at the end of the alley, Lorton stated four of the individuals began beating him, knocking him down, and kicking him,” according to the PC statement. “Lorton alleged he must have passed out or blacked out. When he woke, the four males were running away. He claimed he did not have a pocket knife with him during either altercation, and denied stabbing or cutting anyone.”

The PC, completed by Trooper Austin Kings of the Division of Drug and Crime Control, included a note that Lorton is believed to be a danger to a crime victim because he was involved in an altercation and stabbed four people. One person is deceased and three of the subjects who were stabbed required medical treatment for wounds inflicted by Lorton.

Griffith could not provide updates on the three injured males.

“The investigation will continue to establish further evidence and the court process will begin,” Griffith said. “I would like to thank the MSHP and the Gasconade County Sheriff’s Office for assistance with this investigation and their timely response in this investigation, and the Owensville Police officers for the work they put in.”

He is scheduled for arraignment at 9 a.m. on Sept. 16 in Brehe-Krueger’s courtroom.

Lorton had several prior traffic, criminal and Missouri Department of Revenue cases listed on Missouri Case.net. He is due in Sonya Day Brandt’s Owensville Municipal Court at 9 a.m. on Sept. 16 to review required MADD paperwork in exchange for a two year suspension of sentence, correlating with a two year unsupervised probationary period.

Lorton is also expected in Brehe-Krueger’s courtroom at 11 a.m. on Nov. 4 to petition for the return of his driver’s license.