The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting death of a dog Wednesday at private residence in the Crystal River Valley where a man came home and discovered his young yellow lab lying in a pool of blood in the living room.
Surveillance video from the family’s property indicated that two shots were fired. The first was a misfire from a revolver and the second one, which was fatal, came from a .22 rifle, resident and dog owner Tom Friel said Thursday.
The shots originated from a trail that passes by the family’s 1-acre property, Friel said.
Sheriff’s officials were mum about the details of the investigation or what they believe transpired.
“I cannot confirm we have a suspect,” said Bruce Benjamin, juvenile investigator for the Sheriff’s Office. “It’s just too early.”
But Friel and his wife, Kirsten Pamp-Friel, who live with their 7-year-old daughter in the 7 Oaks subdivision off Highway 133, said authorities told them a 13-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday night and is in the custody of Mesa County.
Friel was told the boy stole a revolver and rifle and then hitched a ride to near the 7 Oaks Road subdivision, Friel said he was told.
The rifle shot struck the chest of Otis, who would have turned 2 in March. His his companion, a 2-year-old yellow lab named Daisy, made it into the house safely through a dog door. Otis also fled indoors, but it was too late.
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