Former football standout faces $1M bond on murder charge

By Paul Keane

The Wayne County News

A former local football star is facing a $1 million cash bond after

being formally charged with murder in the first degree Thursday morning.

Drexler Dwight Johnson, 36, of Lackey Street in Leakesville, was charged

with murder in the Monday death of John Harris Walker, Jr., 52. His body

was found by a landlord of the properly in the 300 block of Clara West

Road.

Indications are that some type of altercation ensued and that Walker

suffered multiple gunshot wounds during the incident. Sheriff Jerry

"Juice" Mosley and his staff said the investigation is continuing and

details were not being released at this time.

Justice Court Judge Charles Chapman set bond at $1 million for Johnson

during an initial appearance on Thursday.

Johnson was a standout quarterback for Wayne County High School, winning

a Class 4A state title as a freshman, earning a Class 4A State Runner-Up

trophy as a junior and taking the War Eagles on a 15-0 run in 2006 that

culminated in the Class 4A State Championship.

At one point during his career, he was the all-time leader in touchdown

passes in the state of Mississippi.

Shortly after his senior year, Johnson was arrested and charged with

stealing guns from the former Cooley Drugs. He spent roughly a decade or

more in and out of the Mississippi Department of Corrections system,

serving time in the Leakesville prison for a number of years.

During his initial appearance, Johnson fought back tears and sniffled

throughout the proceedings. He said he wanted to hire his own attorney

but that he did not have access to his bank accounts because he did not

have his cellphone. Judge Chapman recommended that he have the state

appoint him an attorney and that the defendant could change to his own

attorney at a later date.

Johnson did request a preliminary hearing, which must take place within

14 days. At the hearing, Chapman will hear evidence from both the

prosecution and defense and determine if the case will proceed through

the court system or if charges will be dropped. Johnson has only been

charged at this point and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a

court of law or by a plea deal.

When Chapman asked the defendant if he wanted to say anything, Johnson

said he did.

Turning to the courtroom audience, Johnson said, "To the family members

that are here, I put myself in this situation. He was a homeboy just out

to have some fun that night but it didn't turn out that way.

"I just want you to know that when I left him he was still alive."

The case is expected to be presented to the next session of the Wayne

County Grand Jury.