Johnson County murder suspect says he shot in self-defense after victim attacked him with an axe

CLARKSVILLE – A Johnson County man arrested Sunday night in connection with the shooting death of another man claims the killing was in self-defense, according to an affidavit.

Mark Anthony Gonzalez, 22, was being held in the Johnson County Jail on $100,000 bail Tuesday. He is charged with first-degree murder, delivery of more than 10 grams but less than 200 grams of meth or cocaine and delivery of more than 2 grams but less than 10 grams of meth or cocaine, according to the Johnson County online jail roster.

According to the affidavit, Gonzalez is accused of shooting 49-year-old Joseph Middleton of Clarksville on Sunday.

Officers responded to a shooting call at 141 Private Road 3533 in Clarksville on Sunday and found Middleton dead.

Gonzalez admitted shooting Middleton but said it was an act of self-defense after Middleton came at him with an axe, the affidavit said.

Police interviewed witnesses at the scene who told them there were two other people in the room with Middleton and Gonzalez at the time of the shooting, and one of those people told police he did not see the axe when the shooting occurred, the affidavit states. The document does not say whether the other witness saw the axe at the time of the shooting or if police ever found an axe on the property.

Witnesses also said that 911 was not called immediately, but rather more than an hour after the shooting, the affidavit states.

Gonzalez told police he loaded the gun and put it in his waistband when Middleton pulled into the driveway because he had “a bad feeling,” the affidavit states.

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Arkansas State Police in the investigation, according to a state police news release.

The drug charges against Gonzalez stem from an earlier incident in which a confidential informant working for the 5th Judicial District Drug Task Force purchased methamphetamine from Gonzalez, the affidavit states.