By LEONARD GRAY-Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – A LaPlace woman shot an unwelcomed male guest in the chest after he kicked open the front door of her apartment.

A preliminary investigation of the incident, which occurred on Oct. 6, has determined she acted in self-defense, according to police.

The alleged trespasser, Sean M. Schnyder, 36, of 1609 E. Frisco St. in LaPlace, is recovering from his gunshot wound at Charity Hospital. He faces charges of violation of a protective order, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and aggravated battery.

Capt. Michael Tregre of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Schnyder had apparently split with his former girlfriend, Violet T. Fleming, 37, about two weeks earlier, following several alleged violent incidents.

A restraining order had been granted to Fleming on Oct. 2 by 40th Judicial District Judge J. Sterling Snowdy.

According to Police, on the night of the incident, at 9:50 p.m., the sheriff’s office was called in reference to a male attempting to enter the apartment on Linda Lane. A second call reported a gunshot had been fired.

When Sgt. Andy Breaux, Lt. Larry LeBlanc and Lt. Harry Troxclair arrived at the scene, Schnyder was located on the corner of Ridgefield and Lacour Drives, having fled the apartment on foot after being shot.

The deputies interviewed Fleming, who was found in her living room, with her .25-caliber handgun on a coffee table.

According to the police report Fleming states when Schnyder entered, she fired twice, hitting him once in the right upper chest, after which he fled on foot.