Cape Girardeau man charged with shooting, killing pit bull tied in its own yard

Criminal charges were filed against a 61-year-old Cape Girardeau man Friday, who allegedly shot and killed a dog named Dollar tied up in its own yard.

Morrie Lee Carwile, charged with misdemeanor animal abuse, allegedly shot the pit bull owned by Walter D. Combs Jr. of 1823 Bloomfield Road, after the dog reportedly attacked Carwile's dog, a Great Pyrenees.

Carwile is also charged with tampering with physical evidence for hiding a .223-caliber firearm, preventing it from being used as evidence.

Carwile said the rifle was transported to Champaign, Ill., according to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Cape Girardeau police officer Ty Metzger.

"Pit bulls are usually cast as the villains," Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said after filing the charges. "This time a pit bull is the victim."

The alleged shooting occurred after Carwile's dog, who was on a walk with Carwile's daughter, got off his leash and walked on the property where the pit bull was chained to a fence in the yard.

According to the affidavit, the dogs began to fight after the pit bull lunged and attacked the Great Pyrenees. Carwile told Metzger that although the dogs were already separated when he got to the location he shot the pit bull because the dog continued to lunge at him. Carwile said he was about 40 yards from the pit bull when he fired the rifle, according to the affidavit.

Carwile is in the Cape Girardeau County jail on a $3,500 cash-only bond. He faces one day to one year in the county jail for each misdemeanor charge, if convicted.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

1823 Bloomfield Road, Cape Girardeau, MO