Cops: Gun ‘gesture’ ends in arrest

VENICE — A Venice woman who allegedly pointed a gun at neighbors is free on $15,000 bond. She told police she had only made a “gun gesture.”

Maria Patricia Kempka

Maria Patricia Kempka, 76, of the 900 block of W. Ybor Ave., is charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill. Those charges are third-degree felonies.

She has waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty through the Public Defender’s Office.

The order setting bond directs that she have no contact with the two victims.

She is also the subject of a petition for a risk protection order filed by the Venice Police Department in the incident. Judge Charles Williams issued a temporary order on Nov. 3 requiring Kempka to turn over any weapons to VPD pending a final hearing on the petition on Nov. 13.

According to a VPD probable cause affidavit, at about 3:15 p.m. Nov. 2, officers responded to West Ybor Avenue regarding an assault with a firearm. The victims told them they were standing on a driveway when they became involved in an argument with Kempka.

Kempka went into her residence and returned carrying a small black handgun, which she pointed at them from across the street, it states. When one victim asked if it was a real gun, she replied that it was, it states.

“Both victims stated they immediately feared for their lives and believed the defendant was going to shoot them,” the affidavit states.

Kempka agreed to speak with the officers after being read her Miranda rights, it states, telling them there had been an argument but denying displaying a firearm and “claiming she only made a gun gesture with her hand.”

She told them there was a black handgun in her nightstand, which she allowed an officer to retrieve.

The firearm — a loaded black Ruger LCP .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun — matched the description of the weapon the victims provided independently, according to the affidavit.