Late Sunday evening in Louisville’s Park Hill neighborhood, a simple disagreement over snacks turned violent when 56-year-old Kenneth Beals allegedly pulled a gun and shot a woman in the arm. The woman, who had come home with treats she bought for her children, confronted Beals after her aunt spotted him eating the food. The incident left her with a non-life-threatening injury and stunned neighbors.
Around 7 p.m. on December 28, police responded to University of Louisville Hospital after a woman arrived with a gunshot wound to her left arm. She had driven herself to the emergency room, telling officers she’d been shot during a dispute at a nearby home. Investigators quickly traced the incident back to a house on Wilson Avenue, where the confrontation began when she attempted to enter as a man was leaving.
According to police reports, the woman’s aunt had earlier noticed Beals helping himself to snacks the victim had brought for her children. When the woman encountered Beals as he was walking out the door, she asked if he had eaten the food. Beals reportedly responded, “Yes, I ate your snack and it was good,” before drawing a handgun and firing a single shot that struck her arm.
Witnesses at the home backed up the victim’s account, identifying Beals as the person who fired the shot. Police say the bullet caused a wound to the woman’s arm that was serious enough to warrant hospital treatment but not life-threatening. She was treated and released after receiving care.
Beals was taken into custody by officers from the Louisville Metro Police Department and charged with second-degree assault and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. His bond was set at $5,000, and he appeared in court on Monday following his arrest.
Court documents show Beals is scheduled to appear again for a preliminary hearing on January 6, 2026. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation at this time or what his defense might be. The investigation is ongoing.
Neighbors described the event as shocking for the quiet Park Hill area, noting how quickly a small dispute escalated into violence. For many in the community, the incident is a reminder of the need for better ways to resolve conflicts without resorting to force.
