CHARLOTTE — A 22-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder for the 2020 shooting death of Marcus Withers.
Derek Johnson Jr. entered his plea in a Mecklenburg County courtroom after jurors indicated they would be unable to reach a unanimous verdict in the case.
The judge sentenced Johnson to 157 to 201 months in prison following the plea. Johnson was originally standing trial for first-degree murder for the death of the 28-year-old victim, with proceedings beginning on Feb. 23.
The trial concluded after jurors informed the court Friday afternoon that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Although the judge instructed the jury to continue deliberations, Johnson chose to enter a guilty plea for the reduced charge. The case was prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Homicide Team.
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The conviction stems from an incident that occurred on June 10, 2020. Officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to Withers’ home, where they found the 28-year-old unresponsive in the backyard. Withers had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including one to his head, and was later pronounced deceased at a hospital.
A family member who was inside the residence at the time of the shooting reported hearing several gunshots. That witness told investigators they saw one suspect running from the scene. A second witness reported seeing Johnson running through the neighborhood shortly after the shooting occurred.
Johnson was detained by authorities a few hours after the shooting following a report that he was arguing with his brother over a firearm. During the subsequent investigation, police said they located a rifle and personal items belonging to Withers inside a shed in the backyard near where the body was found.
Witnesses told investigators that Withers and Johnson had been involved in a recent dispute regarding the ownership of that specific rifle. Evidence found on Johnson’s phone included photos showing him in possession of the same firearm several weeks before Withers was killed.
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