Convicted drug dealer and parolee Julius Erving Johnson is one of two men now in custody on a first-degree murder indictment charging them with the May 2, 2008 shooting death of Brandon Jamelle Muhammad in the parking lot of The Firm nightclub at 820 Palmer Place.
Also arrested is Nathaniel Marsh, who was convicted of assaulting a police officer in April of this year, unlawful gun possession in 2007 and criminal impersonation in 2006. Felony drug charges from July of this year are still pending against Marsh.
Muhammad, 21, was killed less than one month after Johnson registered with the Metro Police Department as an ex-convict on parole. Officers responded to a shots fired call at The Firm just after 3 a.m. on May 2, 2008. A large crowd was leaving the club at the time and a crime scene was located in the parking lot. A short time later, Muhammad arrived by a private vehicle at General Hospital where he subsequently died from a gunshot wound.
More than one year of investigation by Central Precinct Detective Leonard Peck and his colleagues led to the identification of Johnson, 26, and Marsh, 22, as suspects in Muhammad’s murder, which is believed to be linked to gang activity.
Marsh was arrested on the sealed indictment at 1 p.m. Tuesday after North Precinct Officer Ed Draves alertly spotted a vehicle connected to him in the Cumberland View public housing development. Shortly after officers set up surveillance on the car, Marsh returned to it and was arrested.
Johnson was arrested Tuesday night after North Precinct Officer Josh Hill spotted his vehicle on 24th Avenue North, near his mother’s home. Flex officers and Johnson’s mother made contact with him and convinced him to surrender.
Johnson was convicted of three felony cocaine charges in September 2005 and received a 12-year sentence. He was convicted of another felony cocaine count in February 2005 and received an eight-year sentence.
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