Armed Convict Never Prosecuted

Now some future city leaders are wondering why he was on the streets.

Frank Melton says, “I heard rumors Marcell was out on the street and I was very disappointed.”

This video from November 2003 shows Marcell Martin in Hinds county court facing charges of aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied dwelling. Frank Melton was director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics when Martin was brought in.

Melton says, “When we arrested Marcell, we arrested him as a convicted felon in possession of firearms. That is against state law; that is against federal law.”

Melton says Martin should have gone to prison on that charge, but somehow he was never prosecuted, allowed to return to the streets of Jackson where Tuesday he was shot in the stomach, during a gun battle with three other men.

Melton says, “I’ve had a long talk with the district attorney who is going to get involved with it this time and also the US attorney and the right thing will happen now. But this is the kind of behavior I’m not going to tolerate.”

The US attorney’s office in Jackson says they have no record of Marcell Martin’s felony gun possession charge.

Melton says, “If they let him out before I take office, I will rearrest him and he will be held without bond.”

Three people, including Martin were shot during the argument near Ellis Avenue. Melton says he’s talked to state lawmakers about making shooting in the city, a felony offense, because too many convicted criminals aren’t being prosecuted on federal charges, when they’re caught packing.