Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Two horses shot in the head at vet clinic

Two horses shot in the head at vet clinic
Vero Beach, FL (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Jan 11, 2007
County: Indian River
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: John Christopher Tennant, Jr.

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 10544

Classification: Shooting

Animal: horse

View more cases in FL (US)

Drugs or alcohol involved

The Humane Society of the United States is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting two horses at a veterinary clinic in Vero Beach, Florida on January 11.

According to the Indian River County Sheriff�s Office, an employee of the East Coast Equine Clinic found two horses shot in their heads in the pasture behind the clinic on 69th Street on the morning of January 11. Authorities believe the shooting took place between midnight and 8 a.m. One horse, belonging to the clinic�s owner died. The second horse belongs to the son of the clinic owner and is undergoing intensive veterinary care.

The Indian River County Sheriff�s Office Agricultural Unit is investigating the case. They ask anyone in the vicinity who may have heard a gunshot or noticed anything out of the ordinary at the time of the crime to contact them immediately. The Agricultural Unit can be reached at 772-569-6700.

Case Updates

A 21-year-old Vero Beach man was arrested Thursday and charged with two felony counts of animal cruelty for allegedly shooting two horses � killing one of them � at a pasture near Winter Beach on Jan. 11.

John Christopher Tennant Jr., of the 4400 block of 61st Court, was arrested by county Sheriff's Office detectives at the Sheriff's Office, where Tennant allegedly confessed to shooting the horses while they stood behind a pasture fence.

Tennant was being held in the county jail without bond Thursday night.

The horses were shot between their eyes at a pasture at East Coast Equine on 69th Street. One of the horses, a paint about 18 years old and named Sonny, is expected to recover, but a 6-year-old thoroughbred named Woody died.

Tennant allegedly told Detective Todd Finnegan he used his .22 Magnum pistol to shoot the horses.

"(Tennant) never said why he shot them," Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy Jeff Luther said Thursday.

The exact time of the shootings wasn't immediately available Thursday night, but authorities believe the horses were shot sometime between midnight and 8 a.m. Jan. 11.

Thursday night, Biehl said she was very grateful the Sheriff's Office arrested the suspect.

"We'll all be sleeping better tonight," she said of her and her family. "I'm just so glad they caught him. Who knows what else this person would have done? I'm so impressed with our Sheriff's Office and the Ranch and Grove (Unit). They never stopped working on this."

Biehl said she doesn't know Tennant.

"I never heard of him and never met him," she said. "I'm just glad he's off the streets for the safety of everyone in Indian River County and their horses."

She said Sonny is bleeding from his nose, but still walks up to anyone near his stall in his old, friendly way.

"He's a wonderful, amazing horse," Biehl said.

According to the Sheriff's Office, detectives found tire tracks at the crime scene along with an empty Budweiser beer can. After visiting several stores, detectives confirmed the tracks were made by Super Swamper TSL Radial tires.

After further investigation, detectives compiled a list of people owning this type of tire and later found Tennant's vehicle � a 1997 Ford F150 � parked behind a Gifford business where Tennant worked, according to the affidavit.

"The vehicle had tires that matched the tracks at the crime scene and had empty Budweiser beer cans in the (truck) bed," according to the affidavit.

Detectives then began talking with some of Tennant's friends. One of his friends reportedly told detectives Tennant went to his residence about 11 a.m. Jan. 11 and Tennant said he had called in sick to work, according to the Sheriff's Office.

While driving around together later that day, Tennant allegedly bragged to his friend and his friend's girlfriend about shooting some horses and a vehicle earlier that morning, the affidavit stated.

Luther said in the early morning of Jan. 11, Tennant was driving alone in the 5300 block of 58th Avenue when he slowed down and fired several shots at an empty Wackenhut security vehicle parked at a residential development.

Tennant then drove to 69th Street and got out of his truck to go to the bathroom near East Coast Equine, Luther said.

"He had been drinking all day," Luther said. "He saw the horses standing there and he shot them."

He said more charges are pending. Sheriff's Office officials received several tips in the case from local residents and residents from elsewhere in Florida and outside of the state, Luther said.

"We're looking into whether anyone is eligible for a reward" being offered by various groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, Luther said.

Source: TCPalm - Jan 19, 2007
Update posted on Jan 19, 2007 - 9:43PM

Back to Top

A man accused of shooting horses in Indian River County blames beer on his troubles.

John Tennant, Jr. told police he had two cases of beer before driving to a stable and shooting two thoroughbred horses. One of them, a prized breeding horse, died. The 16-year-old thoroughbred, named Woody, was worth $65,000.

The other horse, named Sonny, survived the shooting.

Tennant apparently told a friend about the shootings. He was booked into the Indian River County jail on felony animal cruelty charges.

Source: WFTV - Jan 19, 2007
Update posted on Jan 19, 2007 - 4:14PM

Back to Top

Neighborhood Map

For more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.

Add this case to:

Del.icio.us

Digg

Furl

References

HSUS - Jan 17, 2007

« FL State Animal Cruelty Map

Not sure what these icons mean? Click here.

Note: Classifications and other fields should not be used to determine what specific charges the suspect is facing or was convicted of - they are for research and statistical purposes only. The case report and subsequent updates outline the specific charges. Charges referenced in the original case report may be modified throughout the course of the investigation or trial, so case updates, when available, should always be considered the most accurate reflection of charges.

For more information regarding classifications and usage of this database, please visit the database notes and disclaimer.

Site Map ¤ Disclaimer ¤ Privacy Policy

Two horses shot in the head at vet clinicVero Beach, FL (US)

Case Updates

Neighborhood Map

References

Two horses shot in the head at vet clinic
Vero Beach, FL (US)