Kenneth William Greene charged in fatal shooting of ex-girlfriend 42-year-old Bernadette Johnson

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff and Coroner Leo Dutton has identified Friday’s homicide victim in central Helena as Bernadette Johnson, 42, of Helena.

Johnson died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. near Prospect Ave. and North Washington Street.

Dutton reported that Johnson was transported to St. Peter’s Health, where she was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m. on June 21.

A Helena man has been charged with deliberate homicide after allegedly fatally shooting a woman on Friday evening.

During a hearing in Lewis and Clark Justice Court on Monday, a judge set a $750,000 bond for Helena resident Kenneth William Greene.

According to court documents, police were dispatched to the area of Prospect and North Washington on Friday evening following reports of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers found a woman in the driver’s seat of her SUV with a gunshot wound to her chest.

Officers and firefighters attempted lifesaving measures, but the woman, whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Prosecutors say witnesses informed investigators that a man matching Greene’s description had pulled his car in front of the victim’s vehicle, exited, and then fired 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 the woman 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.