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A property-line disagreement in St. Charles County, Missouri, turned into a criminal case after police said a neighbour fired a gun toward a man repairing a fence. Paula Kohensky, 60, has been charged with first-degree assault or attempted assault and armed criminal action following the Sunday-night incident.
According to court documents cited by First Alert 4, the alleged shooting happened while the man was using an electric grinder to cut a misaligned fence post.The neighbour’s wife told police that someone had shot at her husband, prompting an investigation. Kohensky initially did not come out of her home to speak with officers, but eventually did so about 30 minutes later. She is being held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on December 2, according to court records.
What police say happened
The man told investigators that he had been working on the fence through Sunday evening after a property-line dispute involving him, Kohensky and her husband. He said he brought out an electric grinder to cut a fence post that had been misaligned. According to the probable cause statement, he heard yelling while the grinder was running, followed by a countdown from three and then a gunshot. He ran back inside and asked his wife to call police, as per the report.
Kohensky later told police that she had a history of harassment and stalking issues involving the neighbours. She said she decided to walk her dog in the backyard that night and left the house carrying a handgun, it was further reported.
The neighbour’s account and the video
Kohensky told police she heard loud metal scraping and saw sparks coming from beneath a tarp covering the fence. She said she saw her neighbour’s shadow, yelled at him to get away from the fence and claimed the gun accidentally went off while she was holding it, reported First Alert 4 and Hawaii News Now.Police said surveillance video from the neighbours’ home told a different story. The footage allegedly showed Kohensky and her husband standing side by side while Kohensky pointed a gun at the fence. According to the court documents, the gun appeared to fire before Kohensky’s husband took it from her. The two then went back inside their home.
The charges and what comes next
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Reports suggest that Kohensky faces two felony charges: first-degree assault or attempted assault and armed criminal action.
The charges stem from the alleged shooting during an ongoing neighbourhood dispute, according to court documents. She is currently held on a $500,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 2, according to court records cited by First Alert 4.At this stage, the allegations remain accusations. A preliminary hearing will help determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed, and any final determination of guilt would come through the court process.
Why fence disputes can escalate
Property-line disagreements are among the most common sources of neighbour conflict. A fence sits directly at the boundary between two homes, making questions of ownership, maintenance, placement and access highly personal.In this case, police said the dispute had already involved multiple people and a history of alleged harassment and stalking. That context matters because ongoing conflict can make ordinary repairs feel threatening, even when the work itself is routine.The incident is also a reminder of how quickly disputes can become dangerous when firearms are involved. A disagreement over a fence post, a boundary line or a repair job should be handled through communication, documentation, mediation or legal channels rather than confrontation.
A case still unfolding
The alleged shooting has left a neighbourhood dealing with the aftermath of a dispute that escalated far beyond a property boundary. Police say the evidence includes both the neighbour’s account and surveillance footage, while Kohensky’s defence may address her claim that the gun discharged accidentally.For now, the case remains pending. The court will examine the charges, the video evidence and the circumstances surrounding the alleged shooting before determining how the matter proceeds.