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Florida man arrested after shooting and killing neighbor's dog with a rifle, deputies say

By FOX 35 News Staff
Updated  July 26, 2023 8:13pm EDT
Lake County
FOX 35 Orlando

Florida man shot 2 dogs, killing 1: deputies

A Florida man is facing charges after he allegedly shot and killed his neighbor's dog, and shot a woman's service animal, according to an arrest affidavit. Sheldon Hayward, 65, was booked into jail on two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possession of a gun as a felon.

SORRENTO, Fla. - A Florida man is facing charges after he allegedly shot and killed his neighbor's dog, and shot a woman's service animal, according to an arrest affidavit.

Sheldon Hayward, 65, was booked into jail on two counts of animal cruelty and one count of possession of a gun as a felon.

According to the report, the shooting happened Saturday night in front of a home on Holopaw Trail in Sorrento, Florida, which is east of Mt. Dora.

Laray Carnicelli told FOX 35 that she and her daughter, Kacy, let their dogs outside in the backyard to play but did not realize that the back gate was left open and that the dogs got out. They went outside to look for the dogs and while they were looking, they heard a gunshot, the report said.

They ran to the front door and saw one of the dogs in the front yard about five feet from the road. Deputies said Laray Carnicelli dog, Mary, had been shot in the head and died. The other dog – a service animal named Miller was shot and taken to the hospital, the report said.

"I've never hated anybody in my life. I'm 72 ½ years old, but I hate him," Carnicelli said, referring to the alleged suspect. 

Sheldon Hayward (Photo via Lake County Sheriffs Office)

"I can't tell you how many animals have been cut loose from their owners that have been on my property. I'd never hurt them. Never," she said. 

"He took away a very precious dog that didn't deserve that kind of death, ever."

Deputies walked to Hayward's home to speak with him about the shooting and found a pool of blood nearby, the affidavit said.

Hayward told deputies that a group of dogs came over to his house and were aggressive report said. He said one of the dogs jumped on his fence but did not growl or bark.

He said he tried to scare them with a shovel, but the dogs wouldn't leave. He then said he grabbed a rifle and shot at the dogs five times from behind his fence, according to the report.

Deputies said Hayward was not in imminent danger and did not need to cause unnecessary harm to the dogs, which led to his arrest.

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Miller is back home recovering. The family created a GoFundMe campaign to help cover vet expenses.