Case Details

7 horses and 5 dogs shot to death
Beulah, FL (US)

Date: Apr 17, 2006
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available

Alleged: Craig M. Smith

Case Updates: 2 update(s) available

Case ID: 8231
Classification: Shooting
Animal: horse, dog (non pit-bull)
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An April 17, 2006 shooting on a Florida farm left seven horses dead and three others fighting to survive. At approximately 8:30 pm the owner, Desmond Davis of Beulah, FL returned home to find 10 of his horses and five of his dogs shot. Several animals were found to have multiple gunshot wounds.

Three horses initially had survived the attack and are being cared for by the Northwest Florida Large Animal Clinic - a yearling filly, mare and 6-week old colt. The 6-week-old colt, partially paralyzed, was transported to the veterinary hospital at Auburn University were he was euthanized because of the extent of his injuries.

Davis' five English Setters were killed in the attack.

Escambia County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting; however, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.

Case Updates

A Pensacola man has been arrested in connection with the April 17 animal shootings in Beulah.

Craig M. Smith, 24, is charged with five felony counts of cruelty to animals resulting in a cruel death, and eight felony counts of killing or abusing horses, among other charges, the Escambia County Sheriff?s Office reported. Smith was in the Escambia County Jail on a charge of firearm possession by a convicted felon.

His bond has been increased to $500,000 from $250,000.
Source: Pensaloca News Journal - May 4, 2006
Update posted on May 6, 2006 - 2:45PM 
Dr. Keith Weekley ran his fingers along the coat of a 6-week-old colt as the partially paralyzed animal struggled with unsteady breath after unsteady breath. The veterinarian gave the fragile rear legs a gentle push. "He should be pushing back," Weekley said. "But he can't move his legs." The colt was shot in the top of its spine, when gunfire was sprayed inside a 113-acre lot in Beulah. Five dogs, English setters, died on the scene. Seven horses were confirmed dead. Three other horses remained in treatment at the Northwest Florida Large Animal Clinic on Quintette Road in Pace.

Escambia County sheriff's deputies are investigating the shooting at Desmond Davis' property near Frank Reeder and Jay roads. As of Wednesday afternoon, no arrests were made, said Sgt. Mike Ward, Sheriff's Office spokesman. "When we don't have any leads, we rely on the public's help," he said. "We see if neighbors heard or saw anything out of the ordinary. If it was kids who did this, they most likely said something to somebody."

Shooting a horse is a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Shooting a dog is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Ward said the motive behind the shooting is unknown. Panhandle Equine Rescue President Linda Lambert offered an explanation. "I can tell you the cause: Sick minds," she said. "Someone who does something like this has no regard for life -- animal life or human life. Cruelty to animals escalates to cruelty to humans. It goes hand in hand." Lambert and other Equine Rescue officials visited the animal clinic, where veterinarians monitored the injured colt, trying to decide if surgery to remove the bullet lodged at the top of its spine would be the best option.

"Quality of life becomes a big factor when it comes to these horses," Weekley said. "If a horse can't stand, what kind of quality of life will it have? We don't have wheelchairs for horses." The colt's mother was at the clinic, but her condition worsened, and she was put down. Veterinarians placed another mare, whose own colt had been fatally shot, in the stall with the injured colt to act as surrogate mother. Instead, the mare stared at the wall. "She's not having it," veterinarian Kelleyerin Clabaugh said. "She lost her baby. She knows this one isn't hers."

The animals' owner, Desmond Davis, was unavailable for comment. Clabaugh said Davis called several times to check on the condition of his horses. Davis, 78, told deputies he returned home to find the chain on his fence cut and the lock missing. Once through the gate, Davis found several animals dead, some with multiple wounds, according to a sheriff's report. When deputies arrived, they found slain animals scattered across the property. The 6-week-old brown colt struggled to breathe in the horse corral. Another 7-week-old brown colt was dead, shot in its right side. Two mare quarter horses were alive, but struggling. Each had been shot in the stomach, and one was wounded in the right rear leg. Shell casings were strewn around a dog pen where four of the dogs lay dead. About 200 yards away, another setter was dead in its pen.

Diane Lowery, vice president of the Equine Rescue, said calls poured in from people looking to protect their own animals. "We just tell them we hope it's an isolated incident, and the best thing to do is pray," Lowery said.
Source: Pensacola News Journal - April 20, 2006
Update posted on Apr 30, 2006 - 10:35AM 
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References

TheHorse.com - April 2006
Pensacola News Journal - April 20, 2006 
- May 4, 2006
- May 5, 2006

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