A 76-year-old resident of a gated retirement community in West Babylon, New York, was arrested and charged after prosecutors say she fired a flare gun at her 67-year-old neighbor, striking him in the face.
The incident occurred Monday outside homes at the Belmont Vistas Senior Apartments, where security video obtained by local media shows the woman aiming and firing a flare gun as the man walked with his dog. The victim sustained a wound that required six stitches across his cheek and both residents were taken to hospital for treatment, authorities said.
The victim, identified by police as Richard Catrone, told NBC New York that he first knocked the flare gun out of the woman's hand, after which she picked it up and fired. "My next inclination was to get the gun and I knocked it out of her hand and she went to get it and I wanted to protect my dog. I wanted to protect myself," he said. Seconds after being hit he dropped his dog's leash and charged the woman, the video shows, grabbing her hair.
Neighbors told reporters the two residents had a longstanding feud related to their pets: the woman keeps a cat and Catrone keeps a dog. One neighbor said the dog was upset when the cat sat outside, and Catrone had asked his neighbor to keep the cat indoors. Local news outlets reported the dispute as the apparent motive for the confrontation.
Police arrested the 76-year-old woman, identified in media reports as Kathleen Schuman, and charged her with second-degree assault. She pleaded not guilty at an initial court appearance, according to reporting. Authorities did not immediately release further details about the investigation or whether additional charges could be filed.
A spokesman for Belmont Vistas described the episode as "an isolated incident between individuals and unrelated to the community itself," and said the management was cooperating fully with law enforcement. "The safety and well-being of our residents remain our top priority," the statement added.
Security-camera footage and accounts from residents show the encounter unfolded in the community's outdoor area. Prosecutors and law enforcement are reviewing the video as part of the ongoing investigation. No information was released about whether either resident had a prior criminal record or if the flare gun was legally owned.
The use of a flare gun in a residential dispute has drawn attention as prosecutors proceed with the assault charge. Second-degree assault statutes in New York cover intentionally causing serious physical injury with a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; prosecutors said the flare gun was treated as a weapon in filing the charge.
Police urged residents with information or additional video of the incident to come forward to assist the investigation. The case highlights concerns about escalating disputes in congregate living settings and the role of local authorities in responding to violent incidents among elderly residents.