A loving father, a dedicated soldier, and a cherished son and brother, Amarcus McMillian is remembered for the warmth he brought to his family. Born in Macon, Mississippi, on February 25, 1999, to Aleshia McMillian and David Boykin, Amarcus grew into a man who was deeply connected to his roots. He was a graduate of Noxubee County High School and a member of Miller Chapel Baptist Church. Demonstrating a commitment to service, he became a veteran of the Army National Guard. Above all, Amarcus was a devoted father to his two sons, Amarion and Adonis McMillian. He is survived by his parents, his children, his sisters Breanna Franklin and Aniyah Edwards, and his brother Don'Terrus Portis.
The life of 23-year-old Amarcus McMillian, a Black man, was tragically cut short on the afternoon of Friday, May 13, 2022. The fatal incident occurred just after 3 p.m. inside an apartment in the 700 block of Waterworks Road in Columbus, Mississippi. First responders were called to the scene where they found McMillian deceased from a gunshot wound. Another person, an unidentified woman, was also shot during the attack. She was transported to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle with non-life-threatening injuries and survived.
The Columbus Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation. Witnesses reported that a Black male wearing a mask had entered the apartment and opened fire. In the days following the shooting, Police Chief Fred Shelton appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the gunman. Investigators acknowledged that just a week prior to his death, McMillian had been indicted on three charges of aggravated assault related to a separate incident. However, they did not immediately confirm if this was connected to his killing, stating it was too early in the investigation to determine a motive.
The police's request for community assistance proved fruitful. On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, Johnathan J. Slaughter, a 20-year-old from Macon, turned himself in to the Columbus Police Department after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Slaughter was subsequently charged with one count of murder for the death of Amarcus McMillian and one count of aggravated assault for the injury to the female victim. He was booked into the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center, and investigators began the work of building a case, though few details about the motive or what led to the shooting were released.
In August 2023, a Lowndes County grand jury returned an indictment against Johnathan Slaughter, charging him with manslaughter in McMillian's death. It appeared the grand jury did not return an indictment on the aggravated assault charge related to the second victim. The case proceeded through the legal system, culminating on Monday, August 19, 2024. In Lowndes County Circuit Court, Johnathan Slaughter pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge.
Following his guilty plea, Slaughter was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for the killing of Amarcus McMillian. The resolution of the court case brought a legal conclusion to the violent death that had shaken the community more than two years prior. While the justice system has rendered its verdict, the family of Amarcus McMillian is left to navigate the profound and permanent loss of a young man who was a father, son, and brother. His funeral services were held at Spring Hill M.B. Church, and he was laid to rest, leaving behind cherished memories and two young sons to carry on his legacy.
