What began as a violent dog attack between neighbors quickly spiraled into gunfire, a dead pit bull, and now allegations of threats and retaliation on social media.
And according to deputies, the drama didn’t stop after the shooting.
According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were first dispatched to Chesapeake after two pit bulls reportedly entered a neighbor’s yard and attacked a dog that was tied on a leash.
The dog’s owner told deputies the pit bulls grabbed her dog by the neck and would not let go while she desperately tried to separate them.
That’s when a family member came outside with a handgun.
According to statements, one of the pit bulls released the dog after the gun was drawn. The second dog allegedly continued attacking — and was shot and killed.
The owners of the pit bulls later came to the scene and reportedly admitted the dogs had escaped before and had previously attacked animals in the area, including chickens and a turkey.
Despite the shooting, deputies said everyone at the scene remained relatively calm. The pit bull’s owners reportedly apologized and agreed to keep the remaining dog secured.
Deputies decided not to issue citations at that time, noting one dog was dead and another injured.
Then Came the Social Media Posts
The next day, deputies were called back after the family reported seeing threatening Facebook posts related to the shooting.
According to the report, the posts included statements implying the family would “pay” for shooting the dog, along with comments from others allegedly talking about assaulting them.
The family told deputies they feared retaliation and were concerned after seeing the dog owner allegedly leave his property carrying two AR-style rifles.
One woman told deputies she no longer felt safe staying at home alone and planned to stay elsewhere temporarily.
Deputies advised the family they could seek a protection order and told them to continue documenting any threats or online posts.
Statements were collected, and the incident was documented.
