Police make arrests in gang-related shooting

After more than a year of investigation, Metro Police have made two arrests in the fatal shooting on Brandon Jamelle Muhammad in May 2008.

Police say they believe the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of The Firm nightclub at 820 Palmer Place, was gang related.

Convicted drug dealer and parolee Julius Erving Johnson, 26, and Nathaniel Marsh, 22, are both facing first-degree murder charges in the case, police said.

Marsh was also 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, according to police.

Just after 3 a.m. May 2, 2008, officers responded to a call of shots fired at the club. Officers found a large crowd leaving the club and located a crime scene 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, police said.

Marsh was arrested on the sealed indictment at 1 p.m. Tuesday after North Precinct Officer Ed Draves 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, police said. 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.