LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Death and dementia came to an ugly crossroads Monday in Louisville.
According to an arrest report, 64-year-old Percy Joiner called 911 just after 5:30 a.m. and told dispatchers that he had shot his own wife, 61-year-old Donna Johnson.
Police were sent to their home in the 3500 block of Kerry Drive near Bashford Manor Lane.
"I saw those bright lights flashing in my window, and I looked outside, and there was 10 police cars in the street," said Nick Murphy, who lives nearby.
According to the arrest report, police found Johnson in the bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head.
"They were good neighbors," Murphy said.
LMPD charged Joiner with murder and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. He is currently being held in Louisville Metro Corrections.
"It appears this is some kind of domestic situation that went terribly bad," said LMPD Spokesman Dwight Mitchell.
Joiner's prior felony conviction is tied to an assault on Johnson from October of 1978, when he shot her three times, according to archive files from Jefferson County Circuit Court obtained by WDRB News.
The records show Joiner cut a plea deal agreeing to spend weekends in jail for one year and five years probation.
After Joiner served his time, the couple lived a quiet life, at least in the eyes of the law. They had children, grandchildren and no more run-ins with police.
"I talked to Donna all the time when I walked by there," Murphy said. "Very nice lady. Church-going lady."
But Murphy said Joiner had been "very sick," and Johnson had been taking care of him. Court documents appear to back that up. In May 2017, Johnson wrote herself that, "My husband has been diagnosed with dementia in the summer of 2016 and I have gotten overwhelmed with the paperwork."
The statement came in a document in which they tried to settle the estate of their son, who had passed away. The couple was due in probate court next week. Johnson wrote that she now has power of attorney over Joiner.
Now she's gone, and he's behind bars.
Joiner is due in arraignment court Tuesday morning.
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