Idaho Man Fatally Shoots Ex-Girlfriend's Horse After She Broke Up with Him: Police
Shawn Brayden Jones was charged in connection with the shooting death of Mailee Cooper's horse, authorities say
Shawn Brayden Jones notified authorities after he allegedly shot the horse, an incident report says
The horse reportedly belonged to his ex-girlfriend Mailee Cooper
Jones allegedly told officers that he shot the horse to "put it down," the incident report says, per outlets
An Idaho man has been arrested after allegedly killing his ex-girlfriend’s horse, according to reports.
Shawn Brayden Jones was arrested after police responded to a call for help at a Moreland, Idaho, home on Feb. 6, according to authorities, Idaho State Journal, East Idaho News and KSL reported.
Jones, 24, told a responding deputy that he had broken up his girlfriend Mailee Cooper a week prior and that her horse was still on his property, the outlets said, citing an incident report.
He told officers he felt the need to “put it down” because he thought the horse had not been fed or taken care of and was not doing well as a result, the report said, according to the outlets.
He said nobody had tended to the horse since Jan. 31 and he “didn’t know what was going on with it,” according to the report, cited by East Idaho News and KSL.
When officers pressed for further information, Jones “stammered” and was incoherent as he spoke, the incident report said, according to Idaho State Journal, East Idaho News and KSL.
The deputy at the scene said Jones reeked of alcohol, per the report. When the officer went to take photos of the horse, he noticed the bullet wounds but said otherwise, "the horse appeared to be in good health" and "there were no signs of malnourishment or neglect,” the incident report said, according to the outlets.
Jones’ father volunteered to speak with the deputy and said that Jones was out of control and needed to be charged, Idaho State Journal reported, citing the incident report.
The man said Jones “did not need to shoot the horse,” the report said, according to East Idaho News and KSL.
Once authorities spoke with Cooper, 22, they learned that she had been on the property earlier that day but left after he became angry about their breakup and accused Cooper of cheating on him, according to the incident report as cited by the Idaho State Journal.
Cooper was on her way to get a truck and trailer to pick up the horse from Jones’ property when she received a call from his father claiming he had fatally shot the horse, authorities said in the report, per the outlet.
In a GoFundMe set up to help Cooper “purchase another amazing performance horse,” a friend wrote that Cooper had adopted her pet, Bree, when the mare was just 3-years-old.
“She then put in all the time, energy, hard work, and money it took to start the mare and finish this mare herself,” read a part of the fundraiser. “This horse meant more to Mailee than most could possibly imagine.”
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Jones was booked into Bingham County Jail, per East Idaho News and KSL. He was charged with felony malicious injury to property, the outlets reported.
While he was being booked, he “made a point to state that he did not regret shooting the horse,” the incident report said, according to the outlets.
It wasn't immediately clear if he has entered a plea. He is set to appear in court later this month for a preliminary hearing, the Idaho State Journal reported.
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