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View Full Version : Horse shot near Camp Lejeune, NC


coco21
Nov. 25, 2008, 02:23 PM
My best friends horse was put to sleep at NC state last Friday after exploratory surgery found extensive damage from a bullet.
The horse was found standing in a pasture with his head hanging down unable to move. No one could figure out what was wrong with him. The symtoms weren't adding up. We thought virus, tick, poisoning... but nothing was adding up. There was a tiny wound in his side, everyone thought it was a tick bite, small with a tiny bit of fluid coming out. He was transported to NC state early the next morning where for the next week the vets tried in vain to figure out what was wrong with him. finally they x-rayed the small wound area and found a bullet logded in his liver. The bullet had gone through his stomach, spleen and into his liver. There was too much damage to save him.
This is heartbreaking. This horse was her pride and joy. She had had him for a couple years and worked with him to make him into a really nice horse. He had orginally been intended to be a breeding stallion. (his sire was the hunter Argus) He didn't perform well enough at the stallion trials to justify keeping him as a stallion so the breeder gelded him and that's when my friend bought him. We both grew up riding but until the past few years had only been able to afford the horses off the track... we had some nice ones and learned alot and had fun with them but always "ooo-ed and aaah-ed" over the warmbloods. Finally she was able to buy this horse.
The worst thing about this is that this was not an accident. A marine that was renting a house on the property stood 10' away from him and purposely shot him. Then didn't tell anyone what the horse was suffering from.
I'm not sure why I'm sharing this... it was such a freak thing and hopefully it will never happen to anyone else. I just thought people should know.

Sakura
Nov. 25, 2008, 02:28 PM
That is awful :(. Jingles for your friend... :cry: I'm sure her heart is breaking in two right now...:cry:. The jerk who shot him should be buried neck deep in a fire ant infested area :mad:.

webmistress32
Nov. 25, 2008, 02:30 PM
I do a search every day on news.google.com for the word "horse" when I get to work at 800am.

every single day in the past two weeks at least one new story of a horse being found shot in its pasture.

scary sh!t - makes me consider locking my horses in their stalls all day for their own safety.

sorry for your friend. I had just read that story this morning.

lilypondlane
Nov. 25, 2008, 02:31 PM
How awful! I am so, so sorry for your friend. It's hard enough to lose a beloved pet, but when it's as a result of someone's callous and intentional cruelty, so much harder to bear. And this jackass admitted that he shot the horse? I hope your friend presses charges and the guy gets a dishonorable discharge -- surely, the US Marine Corps doesn't want someone of his ilk in its ranks.

coco21
Nov. 25, 2008, 02:54 PM
The marine didn't admit it. But there was a search warrant and they found legal and illegal guns in the house. the University has been asked to get the bullet for comparison. He will be charged with a felony and the military will court marshall him then dishonorable discharge... this lovely human being had just been accepted into snipper school... what a nice career choice.
If he was in front of me I think I'd totally loose my s@#t.

ponyjumper4
Nov. 25, 2008, 03:43 PM
While this news is terrible, you do not know this wasn't an accident at this point unless someone saw him do it or he admitted it.

coco21
Nov. 25, 2008, 04:15 PM
While this news is terrible, you do not know this wasn't an accident at this point unless someone saw him do it or he admitted it.

This was no accident... a ballistics expert said that whomever shot him had to have done it from approximately 10' away.

fivehorses
Nov. 25, 2008, 05:40 PM
I am really sorry for your friend. I am even more disturbed that a marine would do something like this. Isn't there better screening for who gets into the marine corps?
I actually think a dishonorable discharge is not enough and I am concerned about this person's mental status...I mean this is the work of a sicko.

grayarabpony
Nov. 25, 2008, 05:47 PM
Was this marine in Iraq or Afghanistan?

Guilherme
Nov. 25, 2008, 05:57 PM
If the Marine in question was off duty and off base then there's no military jurisdiction. For a court-martial to have jurisdiction the offense must be "service connected." If he used a government weapon or government ammunition then maybe. But not likely.

His Marine Corps career is likely done as a civilian criminal conviction will cause an Administrative Discharge Board (or it's Corps equivalent) to be conviened. The Board will hear evidence then make a recommendation to the Commandant who may or may not follow it. It's likely that discharge will follow. It will be based upon the quality of his service record.

He has certainly tarnished the Marine Corps reputation by his actions. He won't be seen very charitably by his peers or superiors.

Civilian prosecution is likely from the OP. I don't think you'll see a jail sentence (but maybe). More likely it'll be a fine, costs, probation, and restitution for the value of the horse.

G.

CJBean
Nov. 25, 2008, 06:53 PM
This is pretty sad. I did find this article that shows a picture of the horse that died

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=13161

Also in the article it does say marines have been questioned, but not charged yet.

Never Let Me Go
Nov. 25, 2008, 11:10 PM
I'm so sorry that this happened to your friend. I can't even imagine what she is going through. So sad. He sure was a handsome guy.

amdfarm
Nov. 26, 2008, 03:23 AM
I am really sorry for your friend. I am even more disturbed that a marine would do something like this. Isn't there better screening for who gets into the marine corps?
I actually think a dishonorable discharge is not enough and I am concerned about this person's mental status...I mean this is the work of a sicko.

My thoughts, as well and also wondering if this person has been deployed? He very well could have some PTSD problems that are hindering his thought process, yet he was accepted to sniper school, so who knows.

((((HUGS)))) to your friend for her loss, he was a beautiful boy.

SkipHiLad4me
Nov. 26, 2008, 09:05 AM
I live near this area and had just heard of this incident on Monday when I overheard others from the area talking about it. I was shocked and very saddened to hear of it. Please pass along my condolences to your friend. What a terrible situation to go through.