DEARBORN HEIGHTS (WWJ) -- A 35-year-old Detroit man has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder after prosecutors say he forced his way into a woman's home, fatally shot her, and then turned the gun on himself.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Friday announced the case against Sean Parnell Walker, Jr., in connection with the death of 46-year-old Joyce Johnson of Dearborn Heights.
He arraigned via Zoom from a local hospital, where he remains in police custody while being treated for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face, official said.
Authorities said the shooting happened at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug, 25.
Dearborn Heights police officers were dispatched just after 10 a.m. to a home in the 5400 block of Huron Street, near Powers and Hanover streets on the city's south end, following reports of a home invasion.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Walker inside the home suffering from a gunshot wound to the face, along with Johnson, who was unresponsive in a bedroom with multiple gunshot wounds.
Johnson was pronoucned dead at the scene.
Prosecutors allege that Walker broke into the home and opened fire multiple times, fatally wounding Johnson. Children that were reportedly inside the home at the time of the shooting were not physically harmed.
While the prosecutor's office said Johnson was Walker's girlfriend, neighbors told WWJ's Darrylin Horne that they were estranged, and that Johnson had been having trouble with him for some time.
Neighbor Jim Fracassi said Johnson had been dealing with an ongoing stalking situation involving the suspect, who had previously broken into her home, assaulted her, and damaged property.
"I caught him sneaking around the creek several times, and I was asked by them if I see him call the police, because he was just an ongoing threat," Fracassi said on Tuesday following the incident.
Walker has been charged with the following:
- One count of First-Degree Premeditated Murder
- One count of Felony Murder
- One count of First-Degree Home Invasion
- Three counts of Unlawful Imprisonment
- Three counts of Felonious Assault
- One count of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm
- 10 counts of Felony Firearm
Michigan Department of Corrections records show Walker was on probation at the time of the shooting after pleading to a charge of attempted fleeing police early this year.
Once released from the hospital, he will be remanded to the Wayne County Jail.
A probable cause conference in the case is scheduled for Sept. 9 via Zoom in 20th District Court.
