- Virginia, USA -
UPDATE: June 1, 2021
I have heard back from the Appomattox Commonwealth's Attorney's Office.
The victim, a 2-year-old female Lab mix named Duchess, “survived a serious injury to her jugular vein.”
I also learned that Duchess “has a scar however is doing relatively well.”
~ Original story:
On May 13, 31-year-old NICKELSON LEE SHOWALTER (pictured below), pleaded guilty to one charge of misdemeanor animal cruelty and received a 12-month suspended sentence.
The charge refers to an incident that happened on October 25, 2020, when SHOWALTER shot at a neighbor’s dog.
According to court documents, SHOWALTER went back home and heard a neighbor’s dog barking in the distance and believing that dog was part of a pack of dogs who had previously attacked his own dog, he took his gun and shot the furbaby.
Authorities confiscated the firearm for evidence.
Evidence presented in court show that the neighbor stated his dog had nothing to do with the attack on SHOWALTER’s dog, and that it was a case of mistaken identity.
Appomattox Commonwealth’s Attorney Leslie M. “Les” Fleet said that the dog survived the shooting and is doing well.
I have emailed him and Sheriff Simpson to have more information on the dog and if I get a response, I will post an update.
According to Fleet, SHOWALTER paid $2,000 toward the furbaby’s medical care necessary to treat the injuries sustained as a result of the shooting.
Times Virginian reports that as a condition of the suspended sentence, SHOWALTER, of Appomattox, “must adhere to two years of good behavior, stay off the neighbor’s property and not discharge a firearm on his own property.”
The firearm is to be returned to the shooter.
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Link included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
