A Virginia couple in their 70s has been charged after police say they lured a longtime neighbor onto their property and severely assaulted him with a hammer and a leaf blower during an ongoing dispute over a shared property line.
Louis Chevalier Sr., 70, and Gail Chevalier, 72, have each been charged with malicious wounding, according to the Culpeper Police Department. Authorities announced their arrests this week in connection with the alleged assault.
Longstanding Property Line Feud
Police said the Chevaliers live on the 1100 block of Oakmont Court in Culpeper, Virginia, approximately 70 miles southwest of Washington, D.C.
According to investigators, the couple had been involved in a long-running dispute with their 73-year-old neighbor over the boundary separating their properties.
Authorities allege that before the assault, the couple intentionally used a leaf blower to blow grass clippings onto the neighbor’s property in an effort to provoke him.
Police Say Neighbor Was Lured Onto Property
Investigators said the incident occurred on the morning of July 17, when the couple allegedly enticed the neighbor into their yard.
Once the man entered the property, police say the attack began.
According to investigators, one of the suspects bit the victim’s finger during the confrontation.
Police also allege that Louis Chevalier Sr. admitted to gouging the victim’s eye with his finger.
Investigators further claim the victim was repeatedly struck with a hammer, leaving injuries that matched both the striking face and claw of the tool.
Authorities also accuse Gail Chevalier of striking the victim several times in the back of the head with a leaf blower.
Couple Claimed They Acted in Self-Defense
Police said it was the Chevaliers who called 911 following the altercation, telling dispatchers they had acted in self-defense.
When officers arrived at the victim’s residence, they found the 73-year-old man unconscious.
According to police, he had severe bruising, multiple lacerations, and was actively bleeding from several wounds.
Emergency medical personnel treated the victim before transporting him to a hospital.
Victim Suffers Serious Injuries
Authorities said the victim received six stitches and was diagnosed with:
- A laceration to the back of the head.
- A depressed skull injury.
- A concussion.
- Numerous bruises and additional lacerations.
Medical staff reportedly told investigators that the victim may have sustained permanent injuries.
He remained hospitalized following the incident.
Detectives Collected Blood Evidence
During the investigation, detectives said they recovered evidence linking the couple to the alleged assault.
According to police, the victim’s blood was found:
- On Louis Chevalier Sr.’s shirt.
- On the hammer believed to have been used in the attack.
- At the scene of the assault.
Investigators also alleged the couple used paper towels to wipe blood from themselves, and those paper towels were later recovered inside their home.
Couple Held Without Bond
Following the investigation, both Louis and Gail Chevalier were arrested and booked into jail.
Authorities said they are being held without bond as the criminal case proceeds.
Police Chief Calls Case Highly Unusual
Culpeper Police Chief Nicholas White described the alleged assault as an uncommon case for the community, particularly because it involved elderly suspects.
He noted that the couple and their neighbor lived in what is generally considered a quiet neighborhood but said the longstanding hostility between the two households ultimately led to the violent confrontation.
The investigation remains ongoing. The allegations against Louis Chevalier Sr. and Gail Chevalier are based on police statements and criminal charges, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
