A 64-year-old woman, Ava Leone Kock, from Elba, Minnesota, is facing charges of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon after allegedly shooting her neighbor. The shooting occurred on a Tuesday night around 10 p.m. The victim, who was in her Jeep, had bullet fragments strike her eye and enter her brain after the vehicle was shot multiple times. Deputies from the Winona County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene after a witness reported the incident, which involved several bullet holes in the windshield and driver’s side door of the victim’s car.
Kock’s Alleged Claims and Beliefs
When deputies spoke with Kock, she was reportedly “very cooperative.” She told police that she had heard noises from outside but didn’t go to investigate. Authorities later found bullet holes in the bathroom screen of Kock’s apartment, consistent with the bullet holes in the victim’s vehicle. Kock also allegedly told police that she had attempted to contact the FBI and wanted to speak to local officers about “possible homicides” in the area.
Kock reportedly told investigators that she believed the victim and the witness were involved in “murdering and raping people” and that she had heard them “digging graves” in their apartment’s basement. Kock claimed that she felt compelled to take matters into her own hands because she believed the justice system had not intervened to stop the alleged crimes.
The Shooting and Kock’s Actions
According to the affidavit, Kock grabbed her son’s rifle and fired seven shots at the victim’s Jeep as it pulled into the parking lot. Before firing, she allegedly prayed, saying, “Guide my bullets like you guided David’s rock,” referencing the biblical story of David and Goliath. Kock told deputies that after the shooting, she felt “at peace” and didn’t care about the victim’s injuries. She reportedly hid the rifle behind her stove and placed the shell casings in a potted plant to conceal evidence.
Past Concerns and Arrest
A business owner nearby told deputies that about a month prior to the shooting, Kock had come into the business and expressed concerns about the victim and witness, claiming they were being “very loud” and that she believed the witness was assaulting the victim. Kock allegedly mentioned she would find a way to “take out” the witness.
Kock was arrested and taken to the Winona County Jail, where she is being held on a $500,000 bond. On Friday, a judge ordered a mental health evaluation to determine if Kock is competent to stand trial. Her next court date is scheduled for Thursday.
