Missouri Man Who Claimed Wife Killed Herself Charged With Her Shooting Death, Police Say

A Missouri man who claimed his wife killed herself while he was sleeping is now accused of fatally shooting her, prosecutors said.

Lucky Johnson, 40, faces a first-degree murder charge in connection to the death of his wife, Darrianna Johnson, 27, at their home in Halfway on May 17.

Officers responding to the couple’s residence found Darrianna Johnson lying dead on a bed alongside a 12-gauge pump shotgun that was parallel to her body and pointing toward her head, states a probable cause statement obtained by KOLR.

The woman’s husband told detectives that the two were in bed and he was sleeping when she shot herself, according to the statement, which states he phoned 911.

An investigation, however, allegedly showed Darrianna Johnson’s gunshot injuries to her cheek and jaw and the angle the gun was found laying were not consistent with his claims she committed suicide.

The document shows detectives noted gunpowder evidence from the sheet and wound didn’t line up with his story.

Phone records also allegedly revealed Lucky Johnson called a woman prior to contacting 911, and when a trooper later spoke with the woman she said she and the suspect were in a relationship with each other, police said.

Lucky Johnson was arrested on murder and unlawful use of a weapon charges and was being held at the Polk County jail on a $1 million bond.