Appeals Court upholds Biloxi man’s murder conviction in 2015 of Waffle House waitress shooting

A Biloxi man convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting of a Waffle House waitress in 2015 had his conviction upheld by the state Court of Appeals.

Johnny Max Mount appealed his 2023 conviction, saying the court abused its discretion by finding him competent to stand trial and that the jury’s verdict was contrary to the weight of evidence regarding his sanity.

The Appeals Court found no error and affirmed the conviction.

Mount was at the Waffle House on Highway 90 in Biloxi on November 27 when he began using a vape. One of the waitresses, Julie Brightwell, told him he could not use the vape in the restaurant. Mount stood, drew a gun from his holster and shot Brightwell in the head, killing her.

He went through six competency evaluations between 2015 and a 2021 hearing and the court found that he could consult with his attorney with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and that his delusions about harassment and scriptures did not render him incompetent.

He went to trial in 2023 and was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life.