(ICYMI) Felony Charges Dropped for NFL Player Shembo, Accused of Killing Dog

Prince Shembo, the former Atlanta Falcons linebacker accused of kicking and killing his ex-girlfriend’s Yorkshire terrier in April, has accepted a plea deal to lesser charges, according to media reports

Shembo, a Buford resident, reportedly pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and a $1,000 fine, according to media reports. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said the charges were reduced because it was shown that the dog had bitten Shembo.

Shembo, who was released by the Falcons after the incident, was originally charged with felony aggravated cruelty to animals related to the incident at his apartment in the Century at Mill Creek Apartments on Mall of Georgia Boulevard near Buford.

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According to the police report from the April 15 incident, Shembo allegedly kicked Denicia Williams’ Yorkie named Dior multiple times, resulting in the animal’s death. Williams told police she and Dior had gone to Shembo’s apartment, and after some time she called for Dior, but the dog did not come. She found Dior unresponsive, but still alive, in a dog crate.

Dior died later at the Duluth Animal Hospital, according to the police report.

Should the Falcons re-sign Prince Shembo?

The AJC online poll asks reader if the Atlanta Falcons should re-sign Prince Shembo in light of the reduced charges in the case of his ex-girlfriend’s dog death. More than half of the respondents voted Yes as of 11 a.m. Saturday. Vote here

Williams told police she was talking on the phone with Shembo the next day, and during the conversation he said he had kicked the dog.

According to the arrest warrant, the dog “had a fractured rib, fractured liver, abdominal hemorrhage, thoracic hemorrhage, extensive bruising and hemorrhage in muscles in front leg and shoulders, head trauma, hemorrhage and edema in lungs, hemorrhage between the esophagus and trachea, and hemorrhage in the left eye with internal injuries.”

Shembo, who was arrested and charged in May, said it was a relex action after the dog bit him and he did not mean to kill the dog.

He was tearful when he turned himself in to police, shortly after he had been released by the NFL team.

Shembo, a 2014 fourth-round draft pick by Atlanta from the University of Notre Dame, was entering his second NFL season.

He is a free agent.

Photo Credit: Thomson200/Wikimedia Commons