WEST BABYLON, NEW YORK — A 76-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with assault after allegedly shooting her 67-year-old neighbor in the face with a flare gun during a heated argument at their Long Island retirement community. The incident, which occurred on Monday, September 8th, at the Belmont Villas Senior Apartments, was the culmination of an ongoing feud between the two residents over their pets.
The victim, identified as Richard Catrone, told reporters that the argument began when he asked his neighbor, Kathleen Schuman, to keep her cat inside because it was upsetting his dog. The situation quickly escalated, and home security footage captured the moment Schuman fired a flare gun at Catrone from close range, striking him in the cheek. The video then shows a stunned Catrone stumbling backward before rushing at Schuman, grabbing her by the hair, and striking her in the head.
Catrone was treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and received six stitches in his cheek. Schuman was also treated for minor injuries before being arrested. She has been charged with second-degree assault and has pleaded not guilty. A judge has set her bail at $5,000 and issued an order of protection, requiring her to stay away from Catrone.
Neighbors have described the dispute between Catrone and Schuman as a long-standing issue. One neighbor, Mary Neitzel, told reporters that Catrone had been harassing Schuman about her cat for some time, and that Schuman had even moved out for a few months to live with her sister to escape the conflict.
The management company for the retirement community, Conifer LLC., issued a statement acknowledging the incident and stating that they are cooperating fully with law enforcement. They emphasized that this was an "isolated incident between individuals" and that the "safety and well-being of our residents remain our top priority."
