Tennessee Woman Mistakes Salesman for Hitman, Faces Assault Charges

In a bizarre incident, a Tennessee woman found herself in hot water after allegedly shooting a door-to-door salesman who had knocked on her front door. According to authorities, she believed he was a hitman.

Accusations and Arrest

Monica Johnson-Markwork, a 51-year-old resident of Cordova, a suburb of Memphis, now faces charges of felony aggravated assault. This incident, as reported by various news outlets, was confirmed by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.

Salesman's Condition

The salesman, working for Aptive Pest Control, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. However, at present, he is reported to be in stable condition.

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Ms. Johnson-Markwork explained to deputies that her actions stemmed from a belief that her incarcerated son was the target of a gang-ordered hit. She claimed she thought the salesman was somehow connected to this alleged murder-for-hire plot against her son and herself.

Security Camera Scares

She further revealed that she had spotted an unknown person on her security camera, apparently heading towards her front door. In a panic, she ran upstairs to hide. However, the investigation later revealed that she had fired the shot through the door before retreating upstairs.

Gun Discovery

Though she initially denied firing a gun, deputies discovered the weapon used in the shooting in the attic crawl space where she had sought refuge.

Legal Proceedings

Attempts to reach Ms. Johnson-Markwork for comment were unsuccessful. The public defender’s office declined to comment on whether she had legal representation, and a court clerk confirmed that she had not been assigned one at that time. She was released from jail on a $4,000 bond, and her court date is scheduled for October 13.