In the months leading up to his death, 25-year-old Carlos Collins, a male nurse from Jackson, Mississippi, was living in a state of fear. After ending a year-long relationship with his ex-boyfriend, Marcus Johnson, in late 2023, Collins found himself the target of what his family described as relentless stalking. He reported finding tracking devices on his car and a friend's, and even discovered a ring camera he believed Johnson had installed in a vacant apartment nearby to watch him. On one occasion, Collins told his sister he had woken up to find Johnson in his room, simply watching him sleep. He had reported these incidents to the Jackson Police Department multiple times and had secured a restraining order against Johnson, but the harassment continued. His family believes the police department, where Johnson had once been an officer, mishandled the case and failed to protect him.
The terror culminated in the early hours of April 9, 2024, at Collins's apartment at the Tapestry Northridge complex. Neighbors reportedly heard Collins yell 'Stop Marcus,' followed by the sound of several gunshots. When police arrived, they found a violent scene. Collins had been shot multiple times and struck with a blunt object, later identified as an axe. The entire horrific incident was allegedly captured on his Ring surveillance camera.
The search for Marcus Johnson, a 33-year-old former Jackson police officer, ended the following day. After a high-speed chase that crossed state lines, Johnson was apprehended in Monroe, Louisiana. He was subsequently charged with murder and shooting into an occupied dwelling. During a court appearance on April 12, 2024, a judge denied him bond, considering him a flight risk. Johnson's attorney has claimed that the incident was an act of self-defense. The family of Carlos Collins has expressed concerns about whether they will receive justice, given Johnson's former ties to the local police department.
