Woman charged with aggravated assault
Thursday, February 2

A Meridian woman is in custody charged with aggravated assault after threatening a woman with a gun and spraying her with pepper spray in a Kuna parking lot early this morning.

At 6:24 a.m. Thursday, a person called Ada County dispatch to report a shot fired outside of a building in the 700 block of East Porter Street. Witnesses say a woman later identified as Sherry Lynn Borgeman, 40, of Meridian, had driven into the parking lot and pulled in behind a minivan driven by a 39-year-old woman. Armed with a semi-automatic handgun, Borgeman approached the driver’s side of the minivan and used a window punch to break the glass.

The 40-year-old then put her arm through the broken window and pointed the loaded gun at the driver’s face, threatening her. Borgeman then reportedly pulled pepper spray from her pocket and sprayed the victim who was still inside the vehicle.

While initial reports indicated a shot was fired from the handgun, further investigation revealed the loud sound heard by witnesses was likely the device Borgeman used to break the glass. It appears no rounds were fired from the weapon.

As the 39-year-old victim exited the minivan, there was a brief physical struggle between her and Borgeman. Witnesses report two men who were in the parking lot at the time of the incident stepped in to help. One of the men took the gun from the suspect’s hand while the other separated the two women. Borgeman then fled the area in a vehicle.

As a precaution, the victim was transported to St. Luke’s West in Meridian to be evaluated by doctors. She was released a short time later.

Based on information gathered from witnesses and the victim, police tracked Borgeman to her home in the 600 block of Applegate in Meridian. Members of the Ada Metro Crisis Negotiation Team, Ada County Sheriff’s Office and Meridian Police set up a perimeter around the home and made contact with Borgeman who was alone inside. After about an hour of conversation over the phone, Borgeman surrendered peacefully without any further incident.

Borgeman was booked into the Ada County Jail this afternoon on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (a felony). She is scheduled to be arraigned on the charge tomorrow afternoon.

Borgeman and the victim are described as being close friends who knew each other well. The investigation into what happened in the days and hours leading up to this morning’s incident is ongoing.