Police are looking for the person responsible for shooting what witnesses said was a healthy pit bull terrier multiple times in a neighborhood in east Las Cruces.
The approximately 1- to 3-year-old female dog was found in a puddle of water at about 8 p.m. Thursday and later died in an area of desert near Majestic Ridge that neighbors said is popular with residents and dog walkers.
Las Cruces police said the brown and tan dog was found in a puddle and trying to keep its head above water. It had been shot several times in its chest and shoulder.
Police said witnesses nearby heard a man and woman arguing loudly just prior to hearing shots. A silver or light-colored car was later seen leaving the scene.
"I heard a rapid fire," said Norman Fleeman who lives nearby and called police. "It sounded like five, rapid fire. I got up to look at my back window. I could see a dog running through the back area and it had a leash on it's neck...I just saw the dog walking out and limping and I guess he was walking home but he didn't make another 40 or 50 feet."
Fleeman said neighbors attempted to get help from a veterinarian but it was too late. He said police found what he described as five high-caliber bullet shells at the scene.
Police spokesman Dan Trujillo said the dog was not microchipped and was not wearing any tags, making it difficult to identify the owner.
"We're asking for the public's help," Trujillo said.
Fleeman said the desert area behind his home is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and is frequented by dog walkers who consider it an unofficial park. An animal owner himself, Fleeman said he was surprised that someone would shoot what looked like a healthy dog.
"This park is probably used by a thousand people a month to walk their dogs and walk," Fleeman said. "It's always been a natural, pristine area, so to have this happen is surprising."
As to any possible charges the person or persons responsible could be facing, Trujillo said "that's yet to be determined. We're just trying to find out who did this first."
Police are asking for assistance in identifying the individuals responsible for killing the dog. Investigators also are trying to determine who owned the dog. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 526-8000 or from outside the Las Cruces area at 1-800-897-2746. If you have information on this case, please contact:
Las Cruces Crime Stoppers
526-8000
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