Man sentenced to 64 years for murdering his neighbor

Covington calls 2017 shooting ‘senseless, incomprehensible’

Marcus Darnell Johnson, 34, of Nanjemoy has been sentenced to 64 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Wayne Proctor Jr. and six counts of reckless endangerment, Charles County State’s Attorney Tony Covington (D) announced on Thursday.

On Dec. 23, 2017, in the 8300 block of Bowie Road in Nanjemoy, officers responded for

the report of a shooting. The victim, Proctor, was discovered lying unconscious on the floor of the home suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation revealed prior to the shooting Johnson and the victim, who were neighbors, engaged in a heated argument over $30 the victim owed Johnson while standing outside of the victim’s residence.

The victim’s wife and children were present during the argument and witnessed Johnson pull out a gun, which prompted the victim and his family to walk inside their residence and close the door. As the victim was closing the door, Johnson fired multiple times at the victim, who was struck several times. According to court documents, two of the bullets entered his chest and pierced his heart resulting in Proctor’s death.

Johnson fled the scene but was apprehended by officers shortly thereafter.

On Aug. 14, 2018, a Charles County jury, after a seven-day trial, convicted Johnson of the above listed charges.

Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West, prior to sentencing said, “... a man, that is an active family man with five children, extended family, and contacts beyond what the eye can see in this courtroom, is basically in his home and gunned down in front of children, and his children will forever walk with that memory. It’s just really unacceptable. If you gun down someone in front of their little children, that is way over the line of any crime I can think of.”

Johnson’s sentences run consecutive to each other bringing the total active sentence to 64 years.

Commenting on the case, Covington said, “I’ve been dealing with criminal law for close to 30 years. The killing of Wayne Proctor has got to be one of the most senseless, incomprehensible takings of life I can remember. All you can do is shake your head in disbelief, feel for his family, and thank the court for imposing a sentence that keeps this defendant behind bars for decades.”