Former Jackson Mississippi Officer Marcus Johnson is a killer who was convicted of the ax murder of Carlos Collins
According to court documents Marcus Johnson who worked as a Officer in the Jackson Mississippi police department for eight months before being fired for discipline reasons back in 2013 would get into a physical altercation with Carlos Collins (photo right) that ended up inside of an apartment
Once inside of the apartment Marcus Johnson would shoot Carlos Collins fifteen times before striking him repeatedly with an ax causing his death
Marcus Johnson defense team attempted to explain the murder as self defense however prosecutors would point out the multiple gun shots and ax strikes to dismiss that claim.
Marcus Johnson would be arrested and convicted of first degree murder. He will be sentenced at a later date
Marcus Johnson Case
A Hinds County jury found Marcus Johnson, a former Jackson Police Department officer, guilty of first-degree murder in the 2024 death of Carlos Collins, a registered nurse.
The jury also found Johnson guilty of shooting into a dwelling.
The jury took roughly one hour to deliberate Thursday after both the prosecution and defense presented their closing arguments. The defense rested its case Thursday morning after calling Johnson as the first and only witness for the defense to the stand.
Sentencing is set for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13.
Johnson, now 35, was arrested in connection to the killing of Collins, 25, on April 9, 2024, at Tapestry Northridge Apartments off Parkway Drive near Old Canton Road in North Jackson.
Authorities said Collins was shot multiple times. An autopsy report states Collins was shot at least 15 times in various parts of his body and received six “chop” and sharp-like force injuries. Investigators said 16 shell casings were found at the scene, and Collins was attacked with an axe.
Johnson worked for the Jackson Police Department for eight months in 2013. Johnson was separated from JPD pending disciplinary actions leading up to his immediate termination. Johnson resigned shortly before his termination. Collins was a registered nurse from Yazoo City.
Johnson previously pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and shooting into a dwelling in connection to the case. Johnson is claiming self-defense.
Hinds County Assistant District Attorney Briana Keeler urged the jury to look at Ring camera footage previously presented before the court, showing that Collins was “fighting for his life” during an altercation with Johnson.
Keeler told the jury that Johnson had no reported scratches or marks, while Collins was naked, covered in blood and had chop wounds on his back.
Prosecutors said the altercation moved from inside the apartment to outside, which is when Johnson could have fled downstairs. Keeler said instead, Johnson returned to the apartment, grabbed his gun and fired 16 shots at Collins. Keeler said 15 of those shots fatally struck Collins who “did not deserve to die.”
Keeler told the jury Johnson intended to kill Collins, not in self-defense but in an act of “malice.”
“Carlos isn’t here to tell his side of the story, because the defendant made sure of that,” Keeler said.
Senior Assistant District Attorney James Guthrie reminded the jury that Johnson fled the scene, pawned the murder weapon for $300 to avoid being tacked via any card transactions, tore up the receipt, was fleeing the state of Mississippi and evaded authorities attempting to arrest him.
Johnson had no plans to kill Collins, argued defense attorney Robert Culpepper.
Culpepper told the jury that the April incident was a “justified reaction” due to Collins coming at Johnson “unexpectedly” with an axe.
The defense alleged the two men struggled over the axe inside the apartment before Collins reached for Johnson’s gun. Culpepper said Johnson feared for his life and reacted by striking Collins with the axe.
Culpepper said Johnson’s fear for his life persisted throughout the altercation, leading him to shoot Collins.
Culpepper said the shooting of Collins was not a “deliberate design” but a chaotic incident that unfolded in less than 2 minutes.
“He should not be penalized because he did not get hit first,” Culpepper stated.
Ex-Jackson police officer Marcus Johnson found guilty of murder of Carlos Collins
