MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A woman is dead and her alleged killer is charged with first-degree murder after a bloody knife fight in a Hickory Hill apartment.

Memphis Police say they responded to a call March 27 to the Emerald Park Apartments on Summer Place Lane and found Johnathan Poulino-Martinez, 28, bleeding from wounds to his neck.

As officers gave him medical aid, he allegedly told them, “I assassinated her,” and directed police to a nearby apartment.

Police found the door to that apartment partially open, and followed a trail of blood to a bedrom, where they found Keiry Brito-Mella unresponsive in the corner of the room. She had several cuts to her head, neck and back.

Investigators say they found evidence of a struggle, with multiple kitchen knives covered in blood, and one thrown in a trash can.

Brito-Mella was prounced dead at the scene. Poulino-Martinez was taken to Regional One hospital in critical condition.

Records show Poulino-Martinez was booked into the Shelby County Jail a few days later on March 30. No bond has been set.