Who is Monica Johnson-Markwork? Former Tennessee police captain shoots pest control salesman, claims she thought he was a gang-hired hitman
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
CORDOVA, TENNESSEE: A former captain with Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Monica Johnson-Markwork, 51, has been charged with felony aggravated assault for shooting a door-to-door salesman, who she claims to have taken as a gang-ordered hitman.
Per Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson-Markwork told the police that she believed a local gang was in search of her as she was in contact with her son.
SCSO detectives are conducting an investigation into a shooting that occurred at about 11:45 am at a home in the 1600 block of Brimhill Cove in Cordova. An adult male was transported by Shelby County Fire Dept. to Regional One in critical condition. One person has been detained. pic.twitter.com/x6cif0ufmF
— ShelbyTNSheriff (@ShelbyTNSheriff) September 27, 2023
Notably, her son, Nehemiah Rimmer, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for raping a child, as per ABC Memphis.
Monica Johnson-Markwork thought the salesman had a gun
Per the news outlet, Monica Johnson-Markwork said that she was at her home in a Memphis suburb on Wednesday, September 27, just before noon when she saw a man approaching her front door through the security camera.
She told the police she thought that the man was holding a gun and yelled, "They’re here," before running upstairs to find a hiding spot in the attic.
The investigators determined that Johnson-Markwork actually fired a gun, presumably her father’s, before running up to the attic, according to the New York Post.
While the suspect has not admitted to the act, the firearm was recovered from the attic.
The detectives further said that the victim was a pest control salesman who was carrying an iPad. He was shot in the chest and was taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
Johnson-Markwork has been charged with felony aggravated assault in connection to the shooting.
She was, however, released on a bond of $4000 and is scheduled to appear in court on October 13. A court clerk told The Associated Press that Johnson-Markwork has not yet been assigned a lawyer.
Monica Johnson-Markwork was previously arrested in connection to her son's criminal charges
Monica Johnson-Markwork was previously indicted on several charges including coercion of witnesses and official misconduct.
Per ABC Memphis, the Shelby County District Attorney said that those charges were related to the former captain’s son Nehemiah Rimmer’s criminal charges.
In 2016, she was accused of official oppression, filing a false offense report, accessory after the fact, and conspiracy to commit coercion of a witness.
During that time, the investigators said that she accessed a law enforcement-only database multiple times in October and November 2015.
She also questioned the five-year-old female victim of her son and the girl’s grandmother, apparently threatening her.
At that time, Johnson-Markwork got out on a $20,000 bond.