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1 Horse Shot To Death, 1 Wounded Near Fort Meade

Polk County Sheriff's Office

This 6-year-old paint mare horse was injured from a shooting over the weekend of October 27. Another horse was shot and killed.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 29, 2007

Updated: 10/29/2007 08:19 pm

Polk County deputies are seeking information about the fatal shooting of one horse and the wounding of another in the Fort Meade area this weekend.

"It's a senseless crime," Deputy Sheriff Mike Ard said Monday. "These animals are standing out there doing their thing and minding their own business. And for whatever reason, somebody shot them."

The shooting occurred sometime between Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon on fenced private property at 8757 McCoy Road, a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release states.

Someone entered the 200 acres bordering Lake Buffum and shot to death a 5-year-old paint gelding named Apache, the sheriff's office and the animal's owner said.

A 6-year-old paint mare named Cheyenne, who is Apache's half sister, also was shot in her right side. The bullet remains in the horse, whose wound is being treated.

Cheyenne is recovering well from her injuries, her owner said.

"It is so cruel and so mean that they would destroy something so beautiful," said the horses' owner, Diane Starling. "I don't know anybody like that, and I hope I don't ever know anybody like that."

Deputies were alerted to the shooting Sunday.

Ard said horse shootings don't happen frequently in Polk County and he isn't aware of a motive for the incident.

"The only thing we can conclude right now is whoever did this did it out of pure meanness," he said.

No witnesses have come forward. A neighbor heard what she thought to be a gunshot Saturday night, but gunshots are common in the area near Lake Buffum during hunting season, Ard said.

Anyone with information can call Ard at (800) 226-0344 or (863) 534-7205.

Anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward can call Heartland Crime Stoppers at (800) 226-TIPS (8477).

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at jpoltilove@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7691.

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