Former Jackson Officer Marcus Johnson Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder

A Hinds County jury found Marcus Johnson guilty of first-degree murder and guilty of shooting into an occupied dwelling on Feb. 12, 2026, for the death of 25-year-old Carlos Collins. Judge Faye Peterson sentenced Johnson to life in prison for the murder charge and added a 10-year term for shooting into an occupied dwelling at the sentencing hearing the next day.

The jury returned its verdicts after roughly one hour of deliberation following closing arguments. Johnson, 35, had pleaded not guilty and testified as the defense’s first and only witness; the defense rested Thursday morning after his testimony. At trial Johnson asserted a claim of self-defense.

Prosecutors tied the case to an April 9, 2024 attack at the Tapestry Northridge Apartments off Parkway Drive near Old Canton Road in north Jackson, where investigators said Carlos Collins was killed. Collins, a registered nurse from Yazoo City who was described in court as Johnson’s ex-boyfriend, was found with multiple wounds and pronounced dead after the incident; Johnson was arrested in connection with the killing on April 9, 2024.

Autopsy and scene evidence introduced at trial showed Collins had been shot at least 15 times and sustained six chop- or sharp-like force injuries, and investigators recovered 16 shell casings at the apartment complex. Prosecutors presented Ring camera footage to jurors and urged they view the clip showing Collins “fighting for his life.” Hinds County Assistant District Attorney Briana 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.

At sentencing Judge Faye Peterson told Johnson she had little sympathy for his actions and emphasized his position as a former law enforcement officer. “I’ve heard and seen a lot of things, and this was really bad, even for me to see,” Peterson said. “Being a sworn law enforcement officer, you knew what to do, and you could have surrendered yourself, shown some mercy, shown some act of contrition... That didn’t happen, and because that didn’t happen, this court doesn’t have any sympathy for you.” The judge listened to several impact statements from family members before imposing the life sentence plus the additional 10 years.

Johnson’s brief tenure with the Jackson Police Department dates to 2013, when he worked for the department for eight months and was separated pending disciplinary action; he resigned shortly before termination proceedings concluded. The court docket had sentencing set for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13 following the Feb. 12 guilty verdicts.