Reckless homicide charge pending in La Crosse Menards parking lot fight

The La Crosse man suspected of reckless homicide in a parking lot fight made his first court appearance in the case on Wednesday.

Matthew Kinstler was jailed Tuesday night in La Crosse County, and Judge Elliott Levine set his bond at $100,000.

The 50-year-old Kinstler is accused of causing the death of Russell Paulson. The 79-year-old Paulson died Monday at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.

A fight between the two broke out around 2 p.m. Friday in the parking lot of the La Crosse Menards on Lang Drive, with Kinstler reportedly upset that Paulson parked too close to his vehicle and possibly bumped into it.

Paulson was sent to Mayo with injuries sustained from the fight, and Kinstler was initially arrested for substantial battery and disorderly conduct, before being released later that night.

Investigators believe Kinstler made threats to a group of people in La Crosse on Tuesday, and was arrested that night.

A criminal complaint in the case may be filed on Monday.