Knox grand jury indicts Corbin woman in shooting | News

BARBOURVILLE – A Knox County grand jury has indicted an elderly woman who was arrested last January after she called 911 to say she was about to shoot someone in her apartment.

Zella Eff Paul, 78, of Corbin, faces first-degree assault in connection with the incident being investigated by Corbin police.

According to the department, officers were dispatched to a disturbance at a local mobile home park on January 11th. While the initial report indicated that caller Paul had told the dispatcher “she was going to shoot a person in her apartment,” Knox 911 informed officers en route that the caller had shot someone.

Responding officers found a female who had been shot, who was subsequently transported for treatment and is reported to be in stable condition.

After executing a search warrant, officers initially arrested Paul for attempted murder. She was lodged in the Knox County Detention Center on $25,000 bail.

In an update to their original announcement, the CPD did not provide any further details due to the ongoing investigation, but claimed that Paul would not have been charged if there had been evidence of the Castle Doctrine, which provides a defense against home invasions.

Paul’s arrest citation indicated the victim was her caregiver. Paul told authorities that the woman had “cursed her in her face,” while the woman who was shot above her right knee told them that “Paul had gone crazy about her before the incident.”

Patrolman Chris Brown, Detective Robbie Hodge, Sergeant Jeff Hill, Patrolman Zach Johnson and Patrolman Wayne Bird led and assisted in the investigation. The Corbin Fire Department and Knox EMS responded to the scene.

Paul was released on partial secured bail on February 16. After her arraignment on April 26, she was remanded in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Last Tuesday, Knox County Judge Gregory Lay issued the order to assess Paul’s criminal responsibility and competency. She is next scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 24.

An indictment is merely an accusation and does not imply guilt or innocence. Individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty under state and federal law.