Watch CBS News

Springfield Man Charged With Killing Neighbor's Chihuahua

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (CBS/AP) — A Springfield man is facing animal cruelty charges after police say he killed a neighbor's 4-pound Chihuahua that had wandered onto his lawn.

Freddie Guy, 66, will be arraigned Wednesday in Springfield District Court.

A witness told police that she saw Guy swinging a baseball bat at the dog Tuesday morning, but a local animal hospital says it appears as if the dog was shot with a BB gun.

"The witness turned away to tend to some small children when she heard one of the dogs yelping like it was being injured. She then observed the man standing over the Chihuahua with the bat or a BB gun rifle while he watched the little dog until it stopped moving," police said in a statement.

Guy was gone by the time police arrived at his home, but he was arrested later in the day.

The dog belonged to a family that lived on a nearby street.

Guy's wife told WGGB/WSHM-TV that she was not home at the time but that her husband has never been in legal trouble before.

Neighbors told police that Guy would always complain about barking dogs.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.