MURFREESBORO, TN - In a significant development regarding the March 12, 2021 murder of 26-year-old Carlos Vazquez in Murfreesboro, there has been an update on the legal proceedings against the suspects involved.
Looking back to the crime, Murfreesboro Detective Sgt. James Abbott confirmed that Carlos Vazquez was fatally shot at the corner of Sevier and University Street, succumbing to his injuries shortly thereafter. A woman was also injured in the shooting, but survived after being grazed by a bullet.
25-Year-old suspect Markeace Perkins faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with Vazquez's death and attempted murder for the woman injured in the incident. Perkins, who was involved in a high-speed chase with the police after the shooting, allegedly stole multiple vehicles, attempted carjackings, and caused accidents while trying to evade arrest. Perkins was eventually apprehended after a crash, sustaining facial injuries that required hospital treatment before being taken into custody. He faces additional charges, including unlawful possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, theft, and vandalism.
A second suspect, 28-year-old Dimetrius Raymond Ford, believed to be the driver of the initial getaway vehicle, was arrested in Detroit, Michigan, by federal agents in March of 2021. Ford faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. He was later transferred to a prison in Tennessee. In 2022, he was taken to the jail in Rutherford County to await trial, which will be next month.
Both Perkins and Ford are set to stand trial on January 22, 2024, in the Rutherford County Circuit Court before the Honorable James Turner. District Attorney Jennings Jones told WGNS what the duo will face in court... The trial proceedings are expected to shed light on the tragic events that unfolded on the night of March 12, 2021 and provide justice for the victims involved.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that Perkins is also facing charges in Union Township, Pennsylvania, for the alleged shooting and killing of 33-year-old Lamar Johnson. Authorities reported that Perkins and Johnson were involved in a shootout, resulting in Johnson's death. Perkins reportedly left the scene with Johnson's estranged wife. Perkins will undergo trial in Tennessee first before facing charges in Pennsylvania. Photo below of crime scene and murder suspects in the Murfreesboro, TN case.
