Death of Pikesville woman in November ruled a homicide

Victim died at Johns Hopkins after dispute with boyfriend, police say

The death of a Pikesville woman last month has been ruled a homicide by state medical examiner, Baltimore County police said Thursday.

Gwendolyn Jackson, 44, of the 5200 block of St. Charles Avenue had called 911 on Nov. 21 to report a verbal argument with her boyfriend, 52-year-old Herbert Westley Johnson, in the 4600 block of Chickory Hill Lane, police said. Officers who responded to the domestic disturbance call at 9:40 p.m. said both parties said no physical contact had occurred, police said.

The next morning, officers responded at 8:30 a.m. to Northwest Hospital for an assault call, police said. Jackson had been admitted to the hospital for a head injury and said Johnson had assaulted her, police said.

Jackson's condition deteriorated and she was transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she died Nov. 23, police said.

Johnson was arrested Nov. 22 at Northwest Hospital and charged with first- and second-degree assault, according to police. He is being held without bail at the Baltimore County Detention Center.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the case, police said.

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