CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - The owner of the horse shot and killed in Chesterfield over the summer said he was not pleased to learn the man arrested for the crime was free on bond.
Steven A. Dunn, turned himself in to police earlier this week. He is charged with maiming or killing of livestock and reckless handling of a firearm. Dunn, 20, was granted $7,500 bond and is due back in court next week.
"I don't think a lot of people are going to be pleased that he's back out. But if they felt like he was not a risk, then... " horse owner Henry Gleghorn said. "I'd like to see him get some time. I can't bring my horse back, but he's got to learn that there are rules and regulations for life. You just don't go around killing other people's animals."
Dunn faces up to 10 years in prison if he's convicted of the crimes.
Dunn's arrest came one day after Chesterfield Police publicly named him as the suspect in the June 30 shooting. Chesterfield Police Lt. Steven Grohowski said the arrest of a group of 20 year olds accused in a series of Chesterfield break-ins and the recovery of a stolen gun during that investigation led them to Dunn.
"There were a number of pieces to this puzzle. It's just absolutely great detective work. Great work on the part of our citizens through Crimesolvers," Grohowski said.
Gleghorn called the shooting an "assassination."
"I think he did it for fun," he said.
Gleghorn gave the horse, named Legend, to his son seven years ago as a birthday present.
"A lot of people say, so what, it's just a horse, but he was a family member to us and we loved him," Gleghorn said. "People that will walk up and shoot a horse will walk up and shoot a person, I think."
Gleghorn and his wife have not yet decided whether or not they will attend Dunn's trial.
"My horse was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Gleghorn said.
