Franklin allegedly gunned down Julian Marquis Johnson, 23, outside the Elliott Drive bar early May 30. Three others were injured by gunfire, according to Middletown police.
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Middletown Detective Jon Rawlins testified during a preliminary hearing in Middletown Municipal Court that Franklin confessed to killing Johnson.
Rawlins said Franklin talked with him four times after his arrest, stating he “observed the victim come out the back side of the bar … he has a gun on his person and opened fire.”
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Franklin recognized Johnson from some rap videos on YouTube, but he had never actually talked with him, according to Rawlins.
The shots were fired from a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, Rawlins said. Franklin was spotted a short time later riding a bicycle. A resident later found the gun in her flower bed.
Rawlins said Franklin told him he fired the deadly shots because of threats to a woman.
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Julian’s father, Kenneth Johnson, was in court for Franklin’s arraignment. After the hearing, he said Franklin was sent to Middletown to kill his son.
Franklin has been housed in the Middletown City Jail in lieu of $1 million bond since his arrest. He is schedueld to arraigned Aug. 1 by Butler County Common Pleas Judge Charles Pater.
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