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Case ID: 16725
Classification: Shooting
Animal: cat, dog (non pit-bull)
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Abuse was retaliation against animal's bad behavior
Child or elder neglect
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Dog, cats shot in home with children
Boyd, WI (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jan 28, 2009
County: Chippewa

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Raymond E. Knez, Jr.

A Boyd man has been charged after he allegedly shot one dog and four cats inside his residence while six children were home.

Raymond E. Knez Jr., 33, was charged with first degree reckless endangerment, possession of a firearm while intoxicated and three counts each of mental harm to a child and mistreating animals -- intentional or negligent violation.

According to the criminal complaint:

A deputy of the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department was sent to Knez's residence at 1411 County D in Boyd around 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 28 for a welfare check on the children.

The deputy met an 11-year-old in the driveway upon his arrival. The child said Knez shot two dogs and four cats at the property, and all but one of the dogs was shot inside the house.

The shooting took place around 5:30 a.m., while six children and Knez's girlfriend, Chrystalyn Adcock, were home.

Knez was arrested, and consented to a search of the residence. He found a .280 rifle and told the deputy he had used that gun in the shootings.

Around 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, Knez said one of the family's dogs had killed another in a fight.

Adcock became upset with the remaining dogs after that. Knez told Adcock that he would take the dogs to a pound or a vet or shoot them out of the presence of the children.

He told deputies he then proceeded to drink between 26 and 29 cans of beer over the next 11 hours. He visited a local tavern and discussed the issue with other customers. From that discussion, Knez concluded that he could legally shoot his pets.

At about 5:30 a.m., Knez decided that shooting the animals was "in the best interest of the family," he told the deputy.

He carried the loaded rifle through the house, then went outside and shot one of the dogs. He carried the dog's carcass into the house and showed it to Adcock.

He then decided to shoot the rest of the animals.

Knez found a dog which belonged to the 11-year-old child, stepped on it in the hallway of the residence and shot it.

He proceeded to hunt through the house for the cats, requesting help from a 14-year-old child.

Knez shot one cat after stepping on it and pinning it to the floor. He held another in his left hand, while he shot with his right.

"Knez advised that he did not remember the exact location of the children as he was shooting," the complaint states. However, all six children were awake and inside the residence at the time of the shooting.

After the shooting, the children were told by Adcock to go to school and not tell anybody what happened, according to a 13-year-old boy who was at the residence.

The 11-year-old was too upset to go to school, so Adcock allowed the child to stay home and told the child to clean up the dead animals. Adcock then went to town to purchase beer.

The 13-year-old boy said he didn't see the shooting but heard one of the dogs whining. He said he was upset, and the other children were upset and crying.

Knez posted $1,000 cash bail on Thursday. Judge Steve Cray continued his bond Tuesday, under conditions that he not have contact with Adcock, nor six children. The children's ages are listed on court minutes as 10, 11, 14 and 16 years old, as well as two 13-year-olds.

Knez' combined charges carry a maximum sentence of 53 years in prison.

References

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