Judge reduces murder charge for woman accused in Russell neighborhood shooting

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

A Louisville woman originally charged with murdering her partner in the Russell neighborhood is no longer facing that most serious count.

In court Wednesday, Jefferson District Court Judge Stephanie Pearce Burke reduced Maria Swann’s charge to reckless homicide, saying the testimony supported a finding that Swann acted recklessly rather than with intent to kill.

Swann is accused of shooting and killing her partner, Isaiah Washington, last month inside a home on Cedar Street.

The Louisville Metro Police Department said Swann admitted firing the gun, but told detectives she didn’t mean to shoot Washington.

Det. Stephen Snider testified that Swann said she was trying to intimidate Washington by firing toward a window at the front of the house while she was standing in t