A 76-year-old resident of a gated Long Island retirement community allegedly shot her 67-year-old neighbor in the face with a flare gun during an argument Monday evening, police and community officials said Tuesday.
The incident occurred outside residences at the Belmont Vistas Senior Apartments in West Babylon. The victim was hospitalized and is expected to make a full recovery, authorities said. The woman identified by officials as Kathleen Schuman was also treated at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. She was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.
Local police have not released details on what sparked the dispute or why Schuman had a flare gun in her possession. Conifer LLC, the management company that oversees Belmont Vistas, described the episode as "an isolated incident between individuals" and said the safety and well-being of residents remain a top priority.
Belmont Vistas is marketed as a gated apartment complex for people aged 55 and older. Residents expressed surprise that a violent altercation occurred at the community. "Sometimes [the police] come because it’s a community for older people, but I’ve never thought it was that," resident Liliana Manrique told a local news outlet.
Police responded to the scene Monday evening and took Schuman into custody. Officials provided limited public information about the investigation, including whether any charges had been filed at the time of their statements and what, if any, evidence had been recovered. Court records and local law-enforcement officials indicated an arraignment had been scheduled for Tuesday.
Authorities did not disclose the identities of the parties involved beyond the name and ages provided for privacy and investigative reasons. The medical status released by officials indicated the injured man was expected to recover from injuries sustained to his face.
Flare guns are typically designed for maritime and emergency signaling and are distinct from conventional firearms, but police statements did not address whether that distinction affected the investigation or potential charges. The case remains under review by local authorities, who have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact the West Babylon police department.
The community's management reiterated its commitment to resident safety while cooperating with investigators. Until police release further findings or prosecutors announce formal charges, details about motive and the circumstances leading up to the dispute remain limited.