Bernadette Johnson Obituary, Kenneth William Greene Fatally Shot A Woman In Her SUV Near Prospect Ave.;
Lewis and Clark County Sheriff and Coroner Leo Dutton has identified Friday’s homicide victim in central Helena as 42-year-old Bernadette Johnson of Helena. Johnson tragically died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. near Prospect Avenue and North Washington Street. According to Sheriff Dutton, Johnson was transported to St. Peter’s Health, where she was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m. on June 21.
A Helena man, Kenneth William Greene, has been charged with deliberate homicide following the fatal shooting. During a hearing in Lewis and Clark Justice Court on Monday, a judge set a $750,000 bond for Greene.
Court documents reveal that police were dispatched to the scene on Friday evening after receiving reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found Johnson in the driver’s seat of her SUV with a gunshot wound to her chest. Despite officers’ and firefighters’ attempts at lifesaving measures, Johnson was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Prosecutors stated that witnesses reported seeing a man matching Greene’s description pull his car in front of the victim’s vehicle, exit his car, and then fire into her SUV before fleeing the scene. Police identified the vehicle Greene was driving as being registered to both the suspect and the victim. Greene was taken into custody early Saturday morning at Morrison Park, north of Walmart, where police also recovered a handgun.
Court records indicate that Greene and Johnson had previously been in a relationship and that Greene had allegedly talked about harming her. During Monday’s court session, prosecutors informed the Justice of the Peace that Greene has a lengthy criminal history, including six violent felony convictions.
If convicted, Greene faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with the potential for a life sentence.
