A man convicted of shooting and killing another man during a gold chain robbery in North Miami Beach back in 2023 was sentenced to life in prison on Monday.
Marcuss Ealy, 23, was convicted last month of first-degree murder and robbery in the May 2023 execution-style killing that was captured on surveillance video.
In court Monday, Ealy had a tense exchange with the judge as the sentencing hearing got underway.
“I’m ready to go judge, we already know what’s going on,” he said. “I’m ready to go.”
“You have to be respectful of the court,” the judge replied.
“You’re not being respectful of me,” Ealy said.
Prosecutors said Ealy targeted 21-year-old Malcolm Johnson Jr. for his gold medallion and, after it was stolen, fired the shots that killed him.
Police said Johnson collapsed as the suspects fled. The video quickly spread on social media, and investigators said Ealy’s own brother identified him in the footage.
At Ealy’s trial, Ealy’s brother testified that he was certain it was Ealy in the video.
The co-defendant, Mario Fogler, also pointed the finger at Ealy. Fogler pleaded guilty to the robbery and his involvement in the murder, receiving a reduced sentence in exchange for his testimony.
Ealy, however, maintained his innocence. Taking the stand in his own defense, he accused both his brother and co-defendant of lying.
Before Ealy was sentenced, Johnson’s mother spoke to him.
“You done hurt a lot of people and you got away with it, but thank God, God fixed it that you can’t hurt nobody and kill nobody. You got away with it but this one you didn’t get away with,” she said. “I want the max because my son was a good boy, he worked for everything, he didn’t steal that chain, he worked, he saved his money.”
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