Police: Arnold man jumps from 2nd floor window to escape armed ex-girlfriend

An Arnold man jumped from the second-floor window of his house Monday night after city police said his ex-girlfriend busted in and opened fire, shooting at the man and his brother as she chased them up the stairs.

A criminal complaint filed against Dowona Ranae Johnson, 42, of Arnold, said police responded to the reported shooting in the 1600 block of Fourth Avenue shortly before 10 p.m.

Johnson’s ex-boyfriend told police he had been sitting in the living room with his brother when Johnson, who lives across the street, kicked in the rear door and started firing a handgun at him, the complaint said. The man said he and his brother ran upstairs while Johnson chased them, shooting as she did.

A woman who had been in the dining room when Johnson broke in told police she stood in shock as Johnson chased the two brothers upstairs.

The victim’s brother said he tried to get between Johnson and his brother to keep her from shooting him, the complaint said. After the man jumped out the window, the complaint said Johnson ran back downstairs and out the back door into Ivy Alley.

An officer who responded to the house said he saw Johnson in a second-floor window of her house across the street and called for backup.

Johnson came out the front door and an officer with a weapon drawn placed her under arrest.

Police said they recovered two .45-caliber shell casings and found two bullet holes in the boyfriend’s house.

Police said they found a gun with a live round in the chamber hidden in tall grass in Johnson’s neighbor’s backyard. The gun was reported stolen from Ford City.

Johnson is charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, receiving stolen property and firearms violations. She was released after posting $75,000 bond at her arraignment. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 17.