Homeless man charged with murder in brother’s death

A 56-year-old homeless man has been charged with murder after he allegedly assaulted his brother who later died at the hospital days later.

On Sunday, detectives from the Long Beach Police Department received word of an unidentified patient at a local hospital who had suffered “major trauma” and appeared to have been the victim of an assault.

Officers responded to the hospital and were eventually able to identify the scene of the alleged crime on the 2500 block of Delta Avenue in Long Beach.

The suspect in the man’s assault was eventually identified as Marcellus Johnson, a 56-year-old man experiencing homelessness. On Monday, Marcellus Johnson was arrested and booked into jail on one count of attempted murder.

It was later revealed that the unidentified patient at the hospital was Mark Johnson, Marcellus’ brother. Both men are 56 years old, and a police spokesperson confirmed to KTLA that the two are adopted brothers.

“[The] investigation indicates the victim and suspect are brothers who were involved in an argument which escalated to a physical assault,” the Police Department wrote in a news release.

While Marcellus remained in custody for allegedly attacking his brother, Mark Johnson succumbed to his injuries and died Tuesday.

Marcellus Johnson has now received amended charges for murder, and his bail was increased from $1 million to $2 million.

The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Oscar Valenzuela or Jesus Espinoza at 562-570-7244. Anonymous tips can be provided online or by calling 800-222-8477.