Hayward the Florida suspect is facing charges of felon possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as two counts of animal cruelty.
Florida suspect Sheldon Hayward, 65, has been apprehended by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office following a disturbing incident involving his neighbors’ dogs on Saturday night
The incident unfolded in Sorrento when a woman reported an animal cruelty complaint to the deputies around 9 p.m. According to reports, Hayward the Florida suspect allegedly shot two dogs belonging to his neighbors. One of the dogs, a 13-year-old named Mary, tragically lost her life as a result of the shooting. The other dog, Miller, was a service animal.
The woman and her daughter had let the dogs out into their backyard without realizing the gate was open. The dogs were reportedly not displaying any aggressive behavior when they went missing, but shortly after their disappearance, a gunshot was heard. The daughter was unaware that it was her neighbor, Hayward, shooting at their dogs.
Upon discovering Mary’s lifeless body on the road with a gunshot wound to the head, the woman and her husband approached the scene. Allegedly, Hayward the Florida suspect pointed his gun at them, adding to the distressing situation.
During the investigation, the suspect admitted to firing around five shots at the dogs from his porch, claiming that the animals were aggressive
However, the Florida suspect acknowledged that the dogs did not growl or bark at him. Hayward the Florida suspect further claimed that the dogs had jumped on his fence, and despite attempting to scare them away with a shovel, they did not retreat.
Following his arrest, Sheldon Hayward the Florida suspect was taken to Lake County Jail, where he awaits further legal proceedings. The authorities are yet to respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital about the incident.
This tragic event has left the neighborhood shocked and saddened, with the community rallying around the grieving family who lost their beloved pet in such a senseless act of violence. Animal rights advocates have also expressed their concerns, calling for stricter penalties for those found guilty of animal cruelty.