Elba, MN – Ava Leone Kock, 84, of Elba, Minnesota, faces multiple charges, including second-degree attempted murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, after authorities say she shot her neighbor through a bathroom window on August 12, leaving the victim with a brain bleed.
Details of the Shooting
The incident unfolded around 10:03 p.m., when a man reported that his wife had been shot multiple times while sitting in her vehicle in the driveway. According to the Winona County Sheriff’s Office, the husband was playing video games when he received a call from his wife, asking him to come outside. When he reached the driver-side door, he found her slumped over the dashboard, with multiple bullet holes in the door and windshield.
A total of seven bullet holes were found in the vehicle, and at the hospital, deputies learned that the woman had bullet fragments in her eye and brain, causing her brain to bleed.
Shooting Investigation
Authorities later determined that the bullet trajectory seemed to have originated from an apartment building adjacent to the driveway. Deputies found seven holes in the screen of a bathroom window belonging to Kock’s apartment, which matched the size and location of the bullet holes in the vehicle.
During a police interview the next day, Kock explained that she believed her neighbors were involved in murder and rape in the community. She claimed that she had heard them “digging graves in the basement of their apartment” and believed children had been buried there.
Kock stated that she felt the justice system was not doing enough and decided to take matters into her own hands as per Fox9.
The Prayer and Action
According to charges, Kock revealed that she didn’t want to hear her neighbors anymore, so she took her son’s .22 rifle, which she preferred over a handgun because she was “a better shot.” She then went into her bathroom, where she had a clear sight of the vehicle, and prayed to God, asking Him to “guide my bullets like you guided David’s rock.”
She told detectives that she fired seven rounds, explaining that seven is a significant number in the Bible.
The Dangers of Gun Violence
This case highlights the dangers of escalating conflicts and the impact of gun violence in domestic settings. While Kock’s belief that she was acting in the name of justice, her actions had a tragic result, leaving her neighbor injured and her community shaken.
Legal and Community Implications
The case raises questions about the responsibility of individuals to act within the bounds of the law, even if they believe they are fighting injustice. Gun ownership and mental health concerns are also at the forefront, as the actions of an elderly woman with a rifle led to serious consequences for her neighbor.
Do you think mental health checks should be required before owning a firearm? Let us know below in the comment section.
