Suspect arrested after pregnant woman fatally shot in front of 2 of her kids

WASHINGTON (TCD) -- Police announced this week that they arrested a man they believe shot and killed a pregnant woman in her car in front of two of her children.

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee III announced Jan. 25 officers from the Capital Area Regional Task Force took 27-year-old Joseph Fox into custody and charged him with second-degree murder while armed.

According to Contee, officers from the Third District responded to the 2500 block of Georgia Avenue NW a little after 8 p.m. regarding sounds of gunshots. Metropolitan Police officers located 27-year-old Sierra Johnson inside a vehicle suffering from gunshot wounds. Metropolitan Police wrote in a statement that Emergency Medical Services arrived and transported Johnson to a hospital where she later died from her wounds.

Contee said, "Ms. Johnson was a mother, and she was shot and killed in front of her two children."

The Metropolitan Police Department said the shooting "was domestic in nature."

Johnson’s family told WUSA-TV that she had three children — two daughters, 2 and 4, and a son less than a year old. Her son was reportedly with a family member at the time of the shooting, but her two daughters were in the car with her. They were not injured. Johnson reportedly recently graduated from Trinity Washington University with a degree in criminal justice.

WUSA, citing court documents, reports Johnson suffered gunshot wounds to her head, neck, and other parts of her body. She was four months pregnant.

Fox reportedly was arrested in June 2018 following a fight with Johnson and was charged with simple assault and attempted second-degree theft. According to the MPD statement, Fox also faces charges of carrying a pistol without a license and felon in possession.

According to court records, Fox is being held without bond.

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