Reward grows to $17,000 in killings of Livermore horses
Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 1:57 pm
caliber
Site Admin
Joined: 15 Jul 2007
Posts: 2868
Location: Paso World
Reward grows to $17,000 in killings of Livermore horses
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, October 30, 2008
(10-30) 10:26 PDT LIVERMORE -- A $17,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever shot and killed two horses at a ranch near Livermore, authorities said today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The horses, named Choctaw and Lucky, were found dead in a pasture on Collier Canyon Road in Contra Costa County on Oct. 22, the same day a calf was found shot and killed on a nearby property on Manning Road in Alameda County.
Authorities believe all three animals were shot the night before.
Michael and Marianne Rountree, the owners of the horses, said the animals appeared to have been shot with a .223-caliber weapon. Contra Costa sheriff's Detective Scott Sutherland said he could not confirm the caliber.
Authorities are trying to determine whether an apparent car crash in the area the night the animals were killed has anything to do with the shootings.
A resident heard the crash about 9:30 p.m. Oct. 21. No car was located, but debris found at the site apparently came from an Acura TSX, Sutherland said. He stressed that it was not clear whether the vehicle was linked to the shootings.
The horses participated in parades and were used by charities benefiting children with special needs. Choctaw, a black and white Tobiano, 15 years old, was used as a therapy horse by the Shriner's Hospital for Children and had appeared at the Parade of Roses in Pasadena.
Lucky, a Paint horse, was rescued from an animal shelter in Martinez and was about 25 years old.
A third horse belonging to the Rountrees, a Tobiano named Hobbie, was not harmed.
The East Bay SPCA said today that it has contributed $5,000 toward a reward fund for information in the case.
"It is tragic and frightening that someone would have such disregard for life," East Bay SPCA operation director Amelia Funghi said. "That disregard caused two innocent and beautiful animals needless suffering and the loss of their lives."
Anyone with information is asked to call Sutherland at (925) 313-2654. More information on the case can be found at www.hotharc.com, the Web site of the nonprofit group Hoofprints on the Heart, of which Michael Rountree is a board member. Donations to the reward fund can also be made at that site.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
