HAMLET — Police have filed charges, following a brief standoff, against a man accused of trying to kill his wife.
According to Hamlet Police Chief James Carsto, officers responded to a call of a domestic incident on Jefferson Street the afternoon of May 20.
During the altercation, 66-year-old Ronald Lee Johnson allegedly fired shots at his wife, identified in a warrant as Carolyn Johnson.
Carsto said the wife was not injured and was outside when officers arrived at the home.
Johnson allegedly refused to come out of the house and Carsto said the department requested assistance from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team.
The defendant reportedly came out of the house in less than 30 minutes and was taken into custody without incident.
Police charged Johnson with one felony count each of attempted first-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.
Johnson is being held without bond in the Richmond County Jail. His first appearance was May 21 and his next court date is scheduled for June 8.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Johnson was previously convicted in 1996 of possession of a Schedule I controlled substance in Mecklenburg County.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
