Judge Chaney sentences Vicksburg murder suspect to 40 years

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — A Vicksburg murder suspect was sentenced Wednesday in Warren County Circuit Court. Perrion Johnson received a 40-year sentence for the 2023 murder of Preston Wilson Jr.

Johnson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on March 10. Assistant District Attorney Michael Warren represented the state, and Johnson was represented by attorney Noah Drake.

Johnson’s mother spoke during the sentencing.

“Those were fully grown men that came to my house and picked my son up that night,” she said. “They got him drunk and he passed out. He’s a minor.”

The victim’s grandmother also addressed the court.

“He lost his life walking from the store,” she said. “We are asking for the maximum because he did not deserve what he got.”

Drake requested that some of his client’s sentence be suspended, stating it is not clear who exactly was responsible for Wilson’s death.

Warren asked Judge James Chaney to impose the maximum sentence.

“This young man was gunned down,” Warren said. “He was just out here living life, so the state is asking for 40 years, and the family is asking for 40 years.”

Judge Chaney sided with the state and sentenced Johnson to 40 years.

In February, co-defendant John Earl Wallace pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years. Zachary Bryant pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact and received a 10-year suspended sentence. A separate murder charge against Bryant was dropped.

On July 18, 2023, the Vicksburg Police Department responded to a report of shots fired near Cherry and Harris streets, where officers found Wilson lying in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey.

Investigators found eight shell casings at the scene. During the investigation, Wallace told Deputy Police Chief Troy Kimble that he rolled down his window and told Wilson to “be careful” before he and Johnson opened fire from a vehicle.

After the shooting, Johnson fled to Austin, Texas, where he was arrested in November 2023. He was initially charged with murder, drive-by shooting, three counts of aggravated assault, and shooting into an establishment. Judge Penny Lawson set his original bail at $4 million.