A fence line disagreement in St. Charles County, Missouri, escalated into felony charges Sunday night when, according to police, 60-year-old Paula Kohensky fired a gun toward her neighbor while he was working on the fence. The neighbor told officers he heard a countdown before the shot. Kohensky faces first-degree assault and armed criminal action charges and is being held on $500,000 bond.
Kohensky’s account differs sharply from the physical evidence. She told police the gun discharged accidentally while she was holding it during a walk with her dog, and she cited a history of harassment and stalking issues involving the neighbors. Investigators say surveillance video from the neighbor’s home allegedly shows her pointing the weapon at the fence before it fired. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 2.
Property disputes are a reality for homeowners everywhere, and they rarely stay small when emotions run hot. This case is a reminder that cameras are nearly everywhere now, and they often tell a story that words alone can’t rewrite. Have you ever dealt with a boundary dispute that got out of hand? Tell us how you handled it.
