An investigation is under way in eastern Iowa’s Johnson County after a gunman killed one horse and wounded two others Sunday afternoon near Swisher. The man fired over one dozen shots into a horse pasture around two p-m according to Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek.
There is no apparent reason for the shooting and at this time charges are still pending, but officials have identified and spoken with their primary suspect.
“It’s really kind of a sad deal that somebody would shoot somebody’s horses for no reason,” Pulkrabek said. He declined to release the name of the suspect. Two surviving horses had gunshot wounds to the head, breast, flank and legs. They will likely be taken to a vet for specialized care later this week, but are expected to recover. A third horse lay dead Monday morning behind a tree. Todd Zach is a cousin of the owner and takes care of the animals.
“I don’t know what this guy has in mind, to come out here and decide to open up on somebody’s pets,” Zach said. A fourth horse was not wounded, but will have to travel with the surviving pair to the vet in order to maintain its mental health, Zach said. The horses have lived together for several years in the pasture.
Pulkrabek said this is the first time he can recall a random act of violence resulting in the death of a horse.
By Mark Carlson, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids