Driver accused in Prince Holland’s death says he was told ‘if you tell anything, you die’

State Attorney’s Office releases new evidence in murder investigation

Police question Marcel Johnson (WJXT)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The State Attorney’s Office dropped newly released interrogation footage and phone calls in the murder investigation of 13-year-old Prince Holland.

In December 2022, Holand was shot and killed when the SUV he was riding in was ambushed at the intersection of Moncrief and New Kings Road.

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The latest batch of evidence includes several jail calls made by accused shooter Kentrevious Garad and a nearly four-hour-long interrogation of Marcel Johnson, who police said was the driver of the car.

RELATED: New evidence images, 911 calls released nearly a year after murder of 13-year-old Prince Holland

Johnson and Garad were both charged with murder in connection to the fatal shooting.

Two detectives were in the interrogation room with Johnson.

Johnson told detectives there was tension between him and Garard as they followed the red SUV that Holland was riding in from football tryouts.

He said when the two pulled up to the intersection, Garard said, “Let the shots off.”

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The shooting started, and then Johnson drove to Garad’s house. Police said more than 20 bullets were fired in the vehicle. Holland was killed, and another young boy and the football coach, who was the driver, were hit.

Johnson admitted to police that he was scared.

He said Garard warned him, “If you tell anything, you die.”

Johnson realized the wrong person was shot once he started seeing news articles about the 13-year-old.

He told detectives there was no plan, that he had barely anything to do with it and didn’t know why the red car was targeted.

The detective reminded Johnson that Garard was his friend, and despite him saying he didn’t know what Garad was going to do, he was a part of the case now.

One detective asked Johnson how he would feel if someone were to shoot up a car with his 1-year-old daughter inside.

He replied that person should “be under the jail.”

The detective then asked him to put himself in the shoes of Holland’s parents and questioned him about what should happen to Garard.

He replied, “Under the jail.”

Gerard is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in July.


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