Hamden woman charged with murder after stabbing

HAMDEN, Conn. (WTNH) -- A woman has been arrested after she stabbed a man to death in Hamden Saturday afternoon, police said.

Police responded to 233 Goodrich Street for the report of a stabbing at approximately 3 p.m. Saturday.

Upon arrival on the scene, police found Lavery Brown, 44, suffering from severe stab wounds to his chest. Fire department officials treated Brown on scene before he was rushed to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Brown underwent emergency surgery, but he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police were alerted that a female suspect had fled the scene on foot. Rita Renee Johnson, 51, who was living with Brown, was tracked down by police and taken into custody.

Johnson was charged with murder and is being held on a $500,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on October 1st, 2012.

A full investigation is taking place and police say that the incident is being treated as domestic violence. The incident may have started as an argument between Brown and Johnson before it escalated to the fatal stabbing.