GARY ROBIN LARKINS II and THOMAS CHRISTOPHER BUSH arrested for shooting a dog with a pellet gun and were about to hit her with a hammer as police arrived

- Texas, USA -

The Sherman Police Department arrested 41-year-old GARY ROBIN LARKINS II and 52-year-old THOMAS CHRISTOPHER BUSH (both pictured).

Police said that on the afternoon of Sunday, March 29, 2026, officers were dispatched to the 200 block of North Grand Avenue after receiving a report about a dog who had been shot with a pellet gun.

On arrival, “….officers were told a dog had been heard yelping for a period of time”, stated the press release.

Officers located BUSH, LARKINS, and an injured dog. Police tell me that the furvictim, now named Olivia, is a Mastiff / Anatolian Shepherd mix approximately one-and-a-half-years-old.

According to police, BUSH was holding a hammer while standing over Olivia.

The investigation confirmed that Olivia had been shot and BUSH and LARKINS “…admitted to attempting to euthanize the animal”, stated the press release.

Both males were placed under arrest and charged with felony cruelty to non-livestock animals causing serious bodily injury.

Sherman Animal Services took custody of Olivia and took her to a local veterinary emergency hospital for treatment.

Police said Olivia “…sustained serious injuries, including trauma to the head and face, but is expected to survive. She is currently recovering at the Sherman Animal Shelter.”

Grayson County District Attorney John Kermit Hill explained through a Facebook post that the charged offense, “…carries a statutory punishment range of 2 to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and a fine of up to $10,000”.

DA Hill said that “…regardless of public sentiment or our own views regarding the appropriate punishment”, his office “…is bound by this statutory range and cannot exceed it”.

DA Hill further stated that his office is currently “…waiting completion of the law enforcement investigation”, and added: “Once we receive the case from the Sherman Police Department, we will review the case to ensure a thorough and timely review by a Grand Jury. If the Grand Jury determines the case should be indicted, this office will proceed with the timely, thorough and proper prosecution of the case”.

Stormy Spalding, LARKINS’ older sister and BUSH’s fiancée, spoke with KXII and said that “…there is more to the story”. According to KXII, Spalding said: “I tried to contact animal control on March 14th about getting help with, you know, doing an owner surrender. They said that it was a month waiting list”.

Spalding claimed that the dog, whom they have raised since she was a puppy, “…kept getting out of their yard, was repeatedly injured and the family couldn’t afford treatment”.

Spalding went on to say to KXII: “We were trying to do the humane thing since I am on disability, and disability does not pay you enough to even live. We were trying to do the humane thing and go ahead and put her down”.

To that, Lt. Samuel Boyle with the Sherman Police Department pointed out: “Their choice not to follow the procedures does not give them the right to improperly treat the animal. There are laws in place to protect animals from cruel treatment, laws that officers had probable cause to believe they violated”.

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Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from the press release by the Sherman Police Department. Please note that details may be removed or new information added should updates become available.

In the case of charges being dropped, dismissed, or the case being purged, this article will be rectified accordingly, if official documentation is provided to Voice For Us.

Mugshots provided to Voice For Us by the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office

Olivia’s photo shared from the Sherman Police Department

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