DA: Child sex abuse suspect fired gun into victim's home

DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- A child sex abuse suspect in Chester Co. has been charged with attempted murder and witness intimidation after prosecutors say he fired a gun into the residence of his alleged victim.

It happened Sunday, just a few days before 63-year-old Douglas Kohen of Downingtown was scheduled to appear in court on child sex abuse charges. At the time of the shooting, he was out on 10% of $25,000 bail.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan says Kohen approached the trailer where his alleged victim, a girl under 10 years old, was staying with her father and another child.

Kohen pulled out a .357 caliber revolver and fired six shots into the window, Hogan said.

The bullets went through the back wall of the trailer and into another trailer with two adults and three children inside. No one in either residence was hit.

Prosecutors say Kohen then fled in his car. He was found a short time later by police after crashing that vehicle in West Goshen Township.

Police say they found a gun, six spent shell casings and 36 more rounds of ammunition in Kohen's car.

Kohen was first arrested back on January 7th and charged with sexually abusing the young daughter of his neighbor. A preliminary hearing in that case was scheduled for Wednesday.

"He shouldn't have been out, and if he was out, he shouldn't have had access to a gun. And if he was out, he shouldn't have been living next door to the where the child would be. So we're trying to found out, but he should not have been out on bail," said District Attorney Tom Hogan.

He is now charged with attempted murder, witness intimidation, retaliation against a witness and related offenses.

Kohen is now behind bars on a $1 million cash bail.