Fatal Shooting Of Dog Garners Animal Cruelty, Weapons Charges: Police

CENTREVILLE, MD — Fairfax County Police arrested 33-year-old Roman Vyacheslavov Gorelov of Centreville on Friday for fatally shooting a dog, according to a police release.

Officers responded around 9:47 a.m., on Friday to an apartment building in the 5100 block of Brittney Elyse Circle in Centreville for the report of a shooting.

When the officers arrived, they found the owner next to his 2-year-old yellow Labrador and Beagle mix that was suffering from gunshot wounds. The dog was taken to a nearby veterinarian hospital for treatment, but the animal was pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Gorelov and the dog's owner had argued in the breezeway of the apartment building, according to police. Gorelov pulled out a firearm and shot the dog. Scooping up his pet, the owner ran off, but Gorelov shot the dog several more times.

After contacting Gorelov by phone, police took him into custody and charged him with animal cruelty and reckless discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, according to the release. He is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.

Detectives obtained a warrant to search Gorelov's home, where they recovered the firearm.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call 703-814-7000. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000.

Man arrested for fatally shooting neighbor’s dog. https://t.co/utKW6o0SiF pic.twitter.com/SY0IUeTcTp
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) November 12, 2022