Source - AP
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A highly decorated Navy SEAL who found his beloved yellow Labrador retriever shot dead outside his home helped capture the alleged gunmen following a high-speed chase through three counties.
Marcus Luttrell stayed on the line with a 911 operator April 1 as he tried to catch the fleeing suspects during the 40-mile chase that reached speeds of over 100 mph.
"I told them, 'You need to get somebody out here because if I catch them I'm going to kill them,'" Luttrell said he told the operator, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Police stopped the suspects and charged two men with cruelty to a non-livestock animal. The driver of the vehicle was cited for not having a license.
There are at least five area dog killings in recent months that could be linked to the case, said Texas Ranger Steven Jeter.
A phone call by The Associated Press to a Walker County court administrator seeking information on attorneys for the men wasn't immediately returned Wednesday.
Luttrell was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism in 2006. He is the lone SEAL team member to survive a June 2005 firefight with the Taliban in Afghanistan and was given a dog to help him heal after he returned from the war.
"When I saw she was dead, the only thing that popped into my head was, I've got to take these guys out," Luttrell said.
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A highly decorated Navy SEAL who found his beloved yellow Labrador retriever shot dead outside his home helped capture the alleged gunmen following a high-speed chase through three counties.
Marcus Luttrell stayed on the line with a 911 operator April 1 as he tried to catch the fleeing suspects during the 40-mile chase that reached speeds of over 100 mph.
"I told them, 'You need to get somebody out here because if I catch them I'm going to kill them,'" Luttrell said he told the operator, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Police stopped the suspects and charged two men with cruelty to a non-livestock animal. The driver of the vehicle was cited for not having a license.
There are at least five area dog killings in recent months that could be linked to the case, said Texas Ranger Steven Jeter.
A phone call by The Associated Press to a Walker County court administrator seeking information on attorneys for the men wasn't immediately returned Wednesday.
Luttrell was awarded the Navy Cross for combat heroism in 2006. He is the lone SEAL team member to survive a June 2005 firefight with the Taliban in Afghanistan and was given a dog to help him heal after he returned from the war.
"When I saw she was dead, the only thing that popped into my head was, I've got to take these guys out," Luttrell said.
The guys down in Walker County are still investigating, but according to a Lt. with the Rangers in Huntsville said that they are not allowed to speak of the details, but are looking into any links between this shooting of DASY and the other dogs in the area that have come up shot and killed in the prior weeks.Arlington Cardinal:
UPDATE: MICHAEL EDMONDS TURNED HIMSELF IN TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 07, 2009
Mug Shot photograph of Michael Edmonds wanted for investigation of shooting death of multiple dogs in or near Huntsville, Texas.
APR 06 2009 — Warrant out for arrest of Michael Edmonds for the shooting death of Marcus Luttrell’s yellow lab, DASY. Each letter D A S Y represents one of the members of Marcus Lutrell’s Navy SEAL team.
If you have any information about the whereabouts of Michael Edmonds, call the Texas Rangers, Huntsville, TX (Texas Department of Public Safety) 936-435-0152. Ask for officer Steven Jeeter.
Another number given out Tuesday for those who might offer helpful information about this investigation is the Walker County Sheriff’s Department … 936-435-2400.
Each count of animal cruelty carries a penalty of 2 years (if not mistaken), and could possibly be charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm with each count if convicted as well.
Two of the scumbags are not being charged/held as they didn't "commit the acts", and are held as witnesses, not co-conspirators.
Personally, I'd like all four of them to be charged with aggrevated battery and cruelty to an animal, reckless endangerment, and unlawful discharge of a weapon. Marcuss will be slapped on the wrist (no charges) for pursuing the scumbags, and allowed the successful apprehension of them. I don't see the reckless endangerment being pursued by the DA though.
Both Hernandez and Edmonds have been released on bond if I'm not mistaken as well.
Donations have been set up for Mr. Luttrell's loss, with approximately $3000 already collected in less than 72 hours. I know if it were me, and someone had just "executed" my dog just for fun, I'd have to say they'd be hard to find. Just my $0.02