How did Wesley Don-Johle die? Texas BMX legend, 58, killed himself after shooting bike shop employee dead after argument
GARLAND, TEXAS: Texas BMX legend Wesley Don-Johle, shot himself dead in his Rowett home after allegedly killing an employee in his celebrated bike shop in Garland, Texas. Don-Johle, 58, was found dead in his home soon after the body of his deceased employee, James Kincheloe, 40, was found by another employee in the bike shop.
The employee, Preston, who discovered the homicide informed the police that when he arrived to open the shop, he found the gates to be closed. However, the internal metal doors were open. Garland police said there ‘were no signs of forced entry’ and the death was being investigated ‘as a homicide’. The security video provided enough evidence to pin Don-Johle as the suspected murderer.
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Daisy McKee, wife of Kincheloe and mother of his two young sons, said they were shocked by her husband’s death. In an interview with WFAA, she said, “I didn’t know Don to be a mad, or sad, person”. She further said that her husband worked in the bike shop for decades and was “treated as a family”.
When the Garland Police Department reached Don-Johle’s home with a felony warrant, they found the 50 times National BMX winner dead with a reportedly self-inflicted wound.
What are the police saying?
Garland Police Department, in their official police news release on Twitter, stated, “Members of the Garland SWAT unit served a felony warrant at Mr. John’s Rowlett home and discovered him deceased inside the house, from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound."
Lieutenant Richard Maldonado from the Garland Police Department said, “Garland detectives are not searching for anyone else involved in the incident”. The investigation is still ongoing. It remains to be seen what else will emerge in the coming few days. The police has not released any photo of Wesley Don-Johle from the day of the incident.
**Update-Murder suspect found dead**
— Garland Police PIO (@GarlandPD) February 17, 2023
Released 2-16-2023-8:44 PM
Release #2023-02-09
**Update- Murder suspect found dead** https://t.co/gBSO99hImF pic.twitter.com/hf0u9K1AT1
Who was Don Johle?
With a stellar feat of 50 national BMX titles to his name and over 500 wins in racing, Don-Johle was one of the most famous BMX racers in the US. After taking his retirement in 1985, he opened a bike shop in his hometown of Garland, where his mother was also an owner. He was one of the first seven Hall of Famers to be inducted into the Texas BMX Hall of Fame.
Don-Johle was not only a celebrated BMX racer but also tried his hands at various other sports like jet-ski racing. He maintained his streak as a champion there as well, as he went on to win regional championships and etch his name as one of the top ten racers in watercraft sports.