Eastpointe woman facing murder charge after husband shot

EASTPOINTE — At press time, an Eastpointe woman was expected to be back in 38th District Court in Eastpointe after she allegedly murdered her husband with a firearm.

Carletta Johnson, 42, is accused of shooting her husband in the back of the head following an argument in the early morning hours of Dec. 27.

According to an Eastpointe Police Department news release, at approximately 2:20 a.m. Dec. 27, officers responded to a home in the 17000 block of Veronica Ave., which is in the area of Toepfer Drive and Kelly Road.

When officers arrived, they reportedly observed Johnson providing aid to her 43-year-old husband. According to the news release, Johnson claimed she had shot the victim, and the investigation indicated the shooting may have been the result of a “domestic situation.”

The news release states that several firearms were located in the home, including the weapon used in the shooting. The news release did not specify what types of firearms, and the victim’s name was not disclosed.

Johnson reportedly was arrested without incident.

Johnson was arraigned Dec. 28 before 38th District Court Judge Kathleen Galen on one count of homicide-murder in the second degree and one count of felony firearm. According to court documents, Johnson pleaded not guilty to the charges. Galen set a $1 million cash or surety bond with a GPS tether requirement.

Court documents state that Joan Ellerbusch Morgan is Johnson’s court-appointed attorney. The Eastsider reached out to Ellerbusch Morgan via email for comment on the case but didn’t receive a response by press time.

On the afternoon of Dec. 28, Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido issued a press release regarding the allegations.

“Gun violence is not the answer to an argument,” he stated.

“The defendant is to have no contact with her children who were in the home at the time of the offense,” states the press release.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the homicide charge is a potential life felony, if convicted, and the felony firearm charge carries a sentence of two years in prison, if convicted.

Johnson was due in court Jan. 10, after the Eastsider went to press, for a probable cause conference. Johnson also has a scheduled Jan. 17 court date for a preliminary examination in 38th District Court before Galen.

Court dates are subject to change.

Attempts to reach the Eastpointe Public Safety Department for further comment on the shooting were unsuccessful.