Several animals shot to death
Lincoln, CA (US)Incident Date: Friday, Oct 26, 2007
County: Placer
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendants/Suspects:
» Timothy Schulz
» Collin Lovejoy
Case Updates: 4 update(s) available
A dog, a baby bull and two other animals are dead following what Placer County sheriff's officials say was a "brazen" killing spree by two teenagers in rural Lincoln.
Timothy Schulz and Collin Lovejoy, both 18-year-old Lincoln residents, were arrested Saturday. In addition to the dog and bull calf, a goat and a chicken were killed and another dog and a goat were wounded by rifle shots, the Sheriff's Department said.
The two suspects also allegedly shot out the lights in the driveways of at least four homes, said Detective Jim Hudson.
"This appears to have started as benign shootings of street signs and ended up with the aggressive hunting of livestock and pets," Hudson said.
He said the shooting of the lights at homes was of concern to investigators because the incidents "could have escalated either accidentally or on purpose" to the harming of a human being.
Schulz and Lovejoy were booked into the Placer County jail on suspicion of felony cruelty to animals, firing a weapon from a moving vehicle, conspiracy to commit a felony and vandalism.
Hudson said Lovejoy has been absent without leave from the U.S. Marine Corps for two weeks.
"He had just finished boot camp and failed to show up for his next training assignment," the detective said.
Hudson said officers are still investigating whether any more animals may have been killed or wounded and whether any other suspects participated in shootings.
He said the shootings began at about 11 a.m. Friday near Wise and Mount Vernon roads east of Lincoln and continued on other roads within a two-mile radius.
Deputies Daniel Meier and Ryan West spent Friday night and Saturday knocking on doors in the area trying to pick up information, Hudson said.
Meier said he and West learned that a red-over-black pickup truck was seen in the area at the time of the shootings.
"We were told that someone pointed a rifle out the window of the truck and took three to five shots at each location," Meier said.
The deputy called the shootings "brazen" because they occurred in the daytime when children and adults may have been present in the areas.
On Saturday, the two deputies returned to the area and discovered a dead bull calf at the corner of Wise and Gold Hill roads.
"We found a bullet hole in the bull's head," Meier said.
Hudson described the bull as between 5 and 8 months old and weighing 400 to 500 pounds.
Several ranchers told investigators that they had moved their livestock to the back of their properties to avoid snipers' bullets, Hudson said.
Deputies also began to receive reports Saturday about lights having been shot out in the driveways of homes.
Meier said he stopped a truck that was similar in description to the one reported by witnesses.
"It wasn't the one we were looking for," he said. "But the occupants were aware of the incidents and they told me the names of the suspects."
Hudson and fellow Detective Rick Harroun went to the homes of Schulz and Lovejoy, questioned them and made the arrests.
A bolt-action .22-caliber Marlin rifle was discovered at Schulz's home, Hudson said.
Case UpdatesOne Lincoln man faces prison time, another jail time, for their admitted connection with multiple animal shootings in the Auburn area.
Collin James Lovejoy and Timothy Randall Schulz, both 18, were charged with multiple felony counts including animal cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm stemming from shooting spree last October.
The pair are scheduled to be sentenced May 16, prosecutor Jeff Wilson said Friday.
On Feb. 20 Schulz entered a plea agreement and pleaded no contest to three counts of cruelty to an animal. He has been cooperative with investigators and agreed to testify against Lovejoy if necessary, officials said. As part of his plea agreement, Schulz faces a maximum of one year in jail.
Lovejoy has pleaded guilty to nine counts of animal cruelty. He faces a maximum of eight years, four months in state prison, Wilson said.
Lovejoy, an active duty U.S. Marine, was arrested Oct. 27 and had been charged with 19 felony counts of cruelty to animals and negligent discharge of a firearm stemming from the October shooting spree in rural Auburn.
According to court documents, between Oct. 25 and 26, Lovejoy reportedly shot and killed Robin Mcann�s llama and a bull belonging to Pascual Duenas. The third added charge is an additional count of negligent discharge of a firearm.
In all, officials report seven animals have been confirmed shot and two victims reported having their lights shot out at different locations along Mt. Pleasant Road, Wise Road and Godley Road in late October.
Two goats, two dogs, two bulls, a cow, a chicken and a llama have been confirmed killed with only one goat and one dog surviving gunshot wounds. | Source: Lincoln News Messenger - April 21, 2008
Update posted on Apr 21, 2008 - 5:37PM |
One Lincoln man faces prison time, another jail time, for their admitted connection with multiple animal shootings in the Auburn area.
Collin James Lovejoy and Timothy Randall Schulz, both 18, were charged with multiple felony counts including animal cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm stemming from shooting spree last October.
On Feb. 20 Schulz entered a plea agreement and pleaded no contest to three counts of cruelty to an animal, Jeff Wilson, deputy district attorney for Placer County said Tuesday.
�He agreed to cooperate in the investigation and testify if necessary,� Wilson said. �As part of the plea agreement Mr. Schulz will face a maximum of one year in county jail.�
Lovejoy then pleaded guilty to nine counts of animal cruelty. He faces a maximum of eight years four months in state prison, Wilson said.
Lovejoy, an active duty U.S. Marine, was arrested Oct. 27 and had been charged with 19 felony counts of cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm stemming from the October shooting spree in rural Auburn.
Prosecutor Wilson amended the charges against Lovejoy in December adding three additional felony charges. Lovejoy remains in custody in Placer County Jail on $60,000 bail with a federal hold for being absent without leave from the U.S. Marines.
According to court documents, between Oct. 25 and 26, Lovejoy reportedly shot and killed Robin Mcann�s llama and a bull belonging to Pascual Duenas. The third added charge is an additional count of negligent discharge of a firearm.
Schulz, 18, who remains free on $10,000 bail, had been charged with felony animal cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm in connection with the case.
In all, officials report that nine animals have been confirmed shot and two victims reported having their lights shot out at different locations along Mt. Pleasant Road, Wise Road and Godley Road in late October.
Two goats, two dogs, two bulls, a cow, a chicken and a llama have been confirmed killed with only one goat and one dog surviving.
Several residents in the Wise Road and Gold Hill area had livestock killed during the random shooting spree.
Barbara Ferriera lives at the intersection of Wise Road and Gold Hill Road. Her bull was shot and killed during the alleged spree.
�He was young, probably 500 pounds or so with a twin sister,� Ferriera said in a previous interview. �He was perfectly healthy. We turned it over and that�s where the gunshot had come out and blasted its neck away.�
Schulz and Lovejoy are scheduled to return to Placer County Superior court April 16 for sentencing. | Source: Lincoln News Messenger - Feb 26, 2008
Update posted on Feb 28, 2008 - 12:04AM |
One of two Lincoln men suspected of shooting livestock in the Auburn area faces additional felony animal cruelty charges for injuring or killing a llama and a bull.
Collin James Lovejoy, 18, was arrested Oct. 27 and had been charged with 19 felony counts of cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm stemming from an alleged October shooting spree in rural Auburn.
Prosecutor Jeff Wilson amended the charges against Lovejoy Tuesday in an Auburn courtroom, adding three additional felony charges. Lovejoy remains in custody in Placer Count Jail on $60,000 bail with a federal hold for being absent without leave from the U.S. Marines.
According to the newest court documents, between Oct. 25 and 26, Lovejoy reportedly shot and killed Robin Mcann's llama and a bull belonging to Pascual Duenas. The third added charge is an additional count of negligent discharge of a firearm.
Timothy Randall Schulz, 18, who remains free on $10,000 bail, has been charged with felony animal cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm in connection with the case.
Schulz was in an Auburn courtroom Tuesday with his mother, Lori Schulz, and his Sacramento attorney, Jason Lawley.
Lawley said his client has been cooperative with the authorities, but declined to discuss the case further.
Both suspects have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Lovejoy has hired Roseville attorney Stan Switzer to represent him.
In all, officials report that seven animals have been confirmed shot and two victims reported having their lights shot out at different locations along Mt. Pleasant Road, Wise Road and Godley Road in late October.
Two goats, two dogs, two bulls, a cow, a chicken and a llama have been confirmed killed with only one goat and one dog surviving.
Several residents in the Wise Road and Gold Hill area had livestock killed during the random shooting spree. | Source: Lincol News Messenger - Dec 13, 2007
Update posted on Dec 14, 2007 - 6:24PM |
Two Lincoln men suspected of shooting livestock in the Auburn area were in an Auburn courtroom Tuesday.
Collin James Lovejoy and Timothy Randall Schulz, both 18, are charged with multiple felony counts including animal cruelty and negligent discharge of a firearm stemming from an alleged shooting spree last month.
Schulz, who is out of custody on $10,000 bail, was in a Placer County Superior courtroom with his Sacramento attorney Jason Lawley. He entered a not guilty plea to all charges.
Prosecutor Jeff Wilson said Schulz has been cooperative with the investigation, but asked that additional constraints be placed on him.
"We are asking that he not be in possession of any firearms and be subject to search and seizure," he said in court Tuesday.
Lovejoy, an active duty U.S. Marine, previously pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has hired Roseville attorney Stan Switzer to represent him.
Lovejoy has been held since his Oct. 27 arrest on $10,000 bail. His bail was increased to $60,000 on Oct. 30. He also has a no-bail hold for being (absent without leave) from the military, officials said.
So far, there have been five animals confirmed shot and two victims of vandalism whose lights were shot out at different locations along Mt. Pleasant Road, Wise Road and Godley Road. Two goats, two dogs, a bull and a chicken have been confirmed killed with only one goat and one dog surviving the gun shots.
Additional animal cruelty charges are expected to be filed against both men as the investigation continues.
Several residents in the Wise Road and Gold Hill area had livestock killed during the random shooting spree.
Barbara Ferriera lives at the intersection of Wise Road and Gold Hill Road. Her bull was shot and killed during the alleged spree.
"He was young, probably 500 pounds or so with a twin sister," Ferriera said. "He was perfectly healthy. We turned it over and that's where the gunshot had come out and blasted its neck away."
Rosemary Frieborn, a member of Friends of Placer County Animal Shelter, waited outside the courtroom during the pair's brief appearance. She said she plans to follow the case.
"It's pretty perplexing," she said of the case. "This is the reason we have trials, to sort out all this." | Source: Lincoln News Messenger - Nov 15, 2007
Update posted on Nov 16, 2007 - 3:52AM |
References« CA State Animal Cruelty Map
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