Randle Man Accused of Threatening Neighbor with Shotgun

A Randle man was charged with two felonies late last week after authorities said he pointed a shotgun at a neighbor and fired multiple rounds into the ground and air.

Kelly L. Neu, 62, was charged with harassment — threat to kill, second-degree assault and aiming or discharging a firearm or other dangerous weapon, a misdemeanor. He’s being held in the Lewis County Jail on $100,000 bail.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Neu had been involved in a property dispute with his neighbor. During a hearing in Lewis County Superior Court Friday, Neu indicated a civil lawsuit in the matter has been ongoing.

On Thursday, Lewis County deputies went to the spot in the 9000 block of U.S. Highway 12 in Randle after the neighbor complained about Neu. The victim said he was walking the property line when Neu confronted him while wielding a pump-action shotgun.

“I will blow you f****** head off,” Neu allegedly told his neighbor, according to court documents and pointed the gun at his neighbor.

He then allegedly shot four rounds into the ground and one into the air.

They were standing about 15 to 25 feet apart at the time, the victim told deputies.

“(The victim) said he believed Kelly would carry out this threat to kill because he was standing directly in front of him with a loaded shotgun pointed at him while he made the threat,” documents read.

A deputy later went to talk to Neu, who allegedly told the deputy that he had been drinking when the incident occurred. Neu was booked into the jail just past midnight the following morning.

During the hearing on Friday, Deputy Prosecutor Joe Bassetti said Neu appears to have no criminal history. However, he said, given the allegations he requested he be held on $100,000 bail. He also ordered that he maintain distance from the victim.

Judge James Lawler agreed to those suggestions, informing Neu that, given the no-contact order, if he were to post bail, he wouldn’t be able to live in his house. Lawler said the proximity between his house and his neighbor’s would violate the conditions of the no-contact order.

Neu has an arraignment hearing on Thursday.