‘Guide my bullets like you guided David’s rock’: Woman says prayer before shooting neighbor whom she believed was ‘murdering and raping’ people, cops say

A 64-year-old Minnesota woman allegedly said a prayer before shooting her neighbor because she thought the victim was “murdering and raping” people and heard her “digging graves” in the basement, according to cops.

Ava Leone Kock, 64, stands accused of second-degree attempted murder and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, deputies with the Winona County Sheriff’s Office responded around 10 p.m. Tuesday for a call about a shooting in Elba, a small town in southeast Minnesota.

A witness told deputies he was playing video games in his home when the victim called his cell phone and asked him to come outside. When he walked up to the victim’s car, the witness saw she was slouched under the dashboard. He also noticed several bullet holes in the windshield and driver’s side door.

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The victim said she pulled her Jeep into a parking lot when someone started shooting at her. Bullet fragments struck her eye and and entered her brain, cops said. Her Jeep had been struck by bullets seven times, detectives concluded. Cops later learned that Kock lived in a nearby apartment.

Deputies went to speak with Kock, who was allegedly “very cooperative.” She claimed she heard noises from outside but did not go outside to investigate. Cops noted there were seven holes in the bathroom screen which were roughly the same size as the bullet holes in the car, the affidavit said. Kock allegedly said the holes were there when she moved into the apartment about a year prior.

On Wednesday, Kock called 911 and told dispatchers she tried to contact the FBI and wanted to talk to local cops about “possible homicides” that were occurring in the area, according to police. She allegedly said when she moved into her apartment the victim and witness were already living in a neighboring unit.

“Defendant told Deputies she believed Witness and Victim were murdering and raping people,” detectives wrote. “She indicated she has heard them digging graves in the basement of their apartment and believes he has people and kids buried there. Defendant stated she had to intervene because the justice system hasn’t done anything to stop Witness and Victim’s criminal behavior.”

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Kock said she “didn’t want to hear them anymore,” so she grabbed her son’s rifle and shot at the victim’s Jeep as she was pulling into the parking lot, the affidavit stated. Before shooting, she allegedly said a prayer along the lines of “guide my bullets like you guided David’s rock” and fired seven times because the number is referenced in the Bible several times.

After pulling the trigger, Kock told deputies she felt “at peace” and said she “didn’t care” the victim was injured, per the affidavit. She allegedly hid the rifle behind her stove and put the shell casings in a potted plant in her living room. After obtaining a search warrant, cops allegedly recovered the gun and shell casings.

While they were investigating, the owner of a business next door to Kock’s apartment told deputies Kock came into the business about a month ago and said the victim and witness were being “very loud,” according to the complaint. Kock allegedly said she thought the witness may be assaulting the victim and Kock was going to figure out a way to “take out” the witness.

Deputies arrested Kock and took her to the Winona County Jail where she remains on a $500,000 bond. On Friday, a judge ordered Kock to undergo an evaluation to determine if she competent enough to go forward with the criminal case. Her next court date is scheduled for Thursday.

The post ‘Guide my bullets like you guided David’s rock’: Woman says prayer before shooting neighbor whom she believed was ‘murdering and raping’ people, cops say first appeared on Law & Crime.