A man shot and killed his neighbor's dog during an argument at a condominium complex in Centreville, Virginia, Friday morning, police say.
The two neighbors were at an outside stairwell with their respective dogs at the complex in the 13300 block of Connor Drive, Fairfax County police said. At one point, the suspect took out a gun and shot the other man's dog, police said.
Then, the injured dog's owner picked up his 2-year-old lab-beagle mix and laid it on the grass at an outside common area near a playground. According to police, the suspect followed the man and shot the dog several more times.
After the shooting, the gunman went into an apartment, the police said.
We've got the news you need to know to start your day. Sign up for the First & 4Most morning newsletter — delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.
"There is a history here with the neighbors. The gentleman that did the shooting has a Pitbull that's possibly in the apartment as well," police said during a dispatch call.
The dog died a short time later at a local veterinary hospital.
With help from witnesses, police arrested the suspected shooter at a nearby apartment, police said.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Police have identified the suspect as Roman Vyacheslavov Gorelov, 33, of Centreville.
Neighbors who heard the gunshots told News4 that if not for Friday's rainy weather, there would have been more people outside in the common area.
"I heard three shots and I got up and ran to the window and saw one guy run away and two people were screaming about a dog that was laying on the ground near a tree," a woman who did not want to be identified told News4. "My heart started racing."
Gorelov is being charged with animal cruelty and reckless discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school. He is being held without bond at an adult detention center, according to police.
Police said they recovered Gorelov's firearm after using a search warrant to access his home.
Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.
