A Palatine man is charged with animal cruelty after shooting a neighbor's dog he says he thought was a coyote.
Police say Piotr Holy, 40, initially denied shooting the dog, a 9-year-old German Shepherd mix, but later confessed.
The dog had apparently walked into his backyard to investigate a deer carcass Holy had on his property in the 1100 block of South Brockway Street, according to police.
The dog's owner called police when she heard a single gunshot shortly after the animal got away while she was trying to leash him.
Holy faces a felony count of aggravated cruel treatment of an animal, obstructing a peace officer and reckless conduct. He was also charged with unlawfully discharging a firearm while hunting within 300 yards of an inhabited dwelling without permission.
Police confiscated two .22 caliber rifles from his home.
Gunman Charged After Mistaking Dog For Coyote
Palatine man shoots neighbors dog
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