Woman, 76, Accused of Shooting Male Neighbor in the Face with Flare Gun During Argument in Retirement Community By Angel Saunders

A New York resident was arrested after she allegedly shot a neighbor in the face with a flare gun following a verbal altercation in their Long Island retirement community. 

Kathleen Schuman, 76, is facing one count of second-degree assault causing injury with a weapon (an incendiary device), according to Suffolk County First District Court online court records viewed by PEOPLE. She pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on Tuesday, Sept. 9, and her next hearing is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12.

The alleged incident happened on Monday, Sept. 8, in West Babylon, N.Y., the Suffolk County Police Department told USA Today.

PEOPLE did not immediately receive a response from the SCPD. 

NBC New York identified the alleged victim as 67-year-old Richard Catrone, and reports that he got six stitches in his cheek after the confrontation. Neighbors told the outlet that it stemmed from an ongoing feud between the two over their pets.

Both Schuman and Catrone are residents of a retirement home complex for individuals 55 years of age and older. The alleged victim, 67, and Schuman were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at hospitals, police told Newsday on Monday.

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In Ring video footage obtained by NBC 4 New York, Catrone is seen with his dog just before a woman with her back to the camera fires a flare gun at him from close range. 

After stumbling back, he runs up to her, letting go of his dog’s leash and using his hand to grab her by the hair and strike her in the head. 

“F—— idiot!” he yells at her in the security footage. “What is wrong with you?” 

“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,” Catrone told NBC 4 New York. 

“Kathleen showed no emotion,” Catrone said. “She claimed I was the devil, that I tried to murder her. She said, ‘I’m sorry I missed, sorry I missed.’ ”

Catrone “started harassing her because he said her cat was always upsetting his dog and she would sit outside with it,” their neighbor, Mary Neitzel, alleged to NBC New York.

“She actually moved out to live with her sister for a few months. She just moved back a week ago and he just keeps bothering her,” Neitzel said.

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However, Catrone said, “I just asked her can you keep the cat inside and that started the situation.”

Catrone told NBC4 that he made complaints with Conifer LLC., the management company for the property, the Belmont Villas Senior Apartments. PEOPLE did not immediately receive a response from Conifer LLC.

“We are aware of an altercation that occurred yesterday evening between two residents,” Conifer LLC said in a statement to News 12 Long Island. “This was an isolated incident between individuals and unrelated to the community itself. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement as they handle the matter. The safety and well-being of our residents remain our top priority.”

Schuman has denied the allegations against her, News 12 reported, adding that a judge has ordered her to stay away from the victim and set bail at $5,000 cash.