Girlfriend charged in fatal stabbing

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By Kurt Allemeier | Saturday, January 6, 2007 1:19 AM CST | () comments

A combustible relationship ended with a quick stab of a kitchen knife early Friday, leaving a 34-year-old man dead in a Davenport duplex.

Allen Christopher Johnson was found dead in the living room of the north half of a duplex at 316 S. Elmwood Ave., after police were called to the scene about 5 a.m. by his girlfriend, Megan Nicole Price, 21, of 3232 Sunnyside Ave., Davenport.

Price was arrested and charged with voluntary manslaughter as well as with two unrelated traffic tickets. She was in the Scott County Jail Friday night in lieu of $15,145 bond.

The voluntary manslaughter charge against Price stems from what Scott County Attorney Bill Davis said was an impulsive and passionate act.

The couple was arguing and Price picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed Johnson once in the chest, Davis said.

Price gave police a statement, that included admitting to stabbing Johnson, before she learned of Johnson’s death, Davis said. He noted that she was the only witness to the incident and that what she said in her statement made a charge of murder, that requires premeditation, inappropriate.

Police said they had one report of domestic violence between the couple, and Scott County Attorney Bill Davis said neighbors of the duplex, across the street from VanBuren Park, were aware of previous disputes between them.

Johnson’s death is the first violent death for 2007 in Scott County. It is the second fatal stabbing this week in the Quad-Cities stemming from domestic abuse. LaShaune Wright, 28, was stabbed to death New Year’s Day outside a house in Rock Island. Her ex-boyfriend, Steven Douglas Hill, 42, of 714 5th St., is charged with first-degree murder in Wright’s death.

Police received one previous domestic abuse regarding the couple, made in October by Price’s mother. Price’s mother could not be reached for comment Friday.

Reached for comment about her son, Lucille Bea declined to comment.

Price’s relationship with Johnson was one in a recent series of troubling relationships for him.

He divorced in April 2005 and faced an order of protection from a girlfriend that was dismissed in January 2006. Nine months later, Price’s mother made the domestic violence report about Johnson.

Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com.