Viagra Spat Leads To Shooting

BISHOPVILLE -- A Bishopville woman was arrested on attempted second-degree murder and other charges this week after allegedly shooting her newlywed husband in the abdomen during a domestic argument reportedly involving a popular male enhancement drug.

Around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, the Worcester County 911 Dispatch Center received a call from a man reporting his wife of six months, identified as Alice Carmita Johnson, 72, had just shot him in the abdomen during a domestic argument in their Bishopville home on Hotel Rd. Upon arrival, Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputies met with the victim, Robert Lee Leonard, 64, who handed the officers a .22 caliber pistol with which he had allegedly been shot. According to police reports, the weapon appeared to have been freshly fired.

Leonard told police he and Johnson had gotten into an argument that had escalated. According to police reports, the couple had been arguing about Viagra, although the tenor or context of the argument was not included.

A short time later, Johnson allegedly produced the small caliber pistol, aimed it at Leonard’s abdomen and fired a round, which entered his body. Leonard told police he was able to grab the gun from his wife’s hands, which prevented any further injuries. Leonard was then taken by ambulance to PRMC in Salisbury for treatment of injuries not believed to be life threatening.

According to police reports, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to speak with Johnson about the incident, but she evoked her Miranda Rights and said she would not make a statement without first consulting her attorney. Because of the serious nature of the incident, the Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) was called into to continue probing the incident.

Johnson was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. She was taken before a District Court Commissioner and ordered held on a $150,000 bond. She was released later on Monday after posting bond.