WILLIAMSBURG — One dog is dead following a shooting in Williamsburg.
On Sunday, March 26 at approximately 1 p.m., deputies from the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office (YPSO) responded to the 1600 block of Merrimac Trail following a call from a resident who heard three gunshots and then spotted two dogs running into the woods. The resident reported that one of the dogs appeared to be bleeding.
Following this initial alert, another resident called after finding an injured dog near Country Club Apartments, located at 201 Tam-O-Shanter Blvd. in Williamsburg. YPSO deputies transported the injured dog to a local emergency vet who later determined that the dog needed to be euthanized due to its condition.
The dogs’ owner reached out to YPSO after seeing the department’s post on its Facebook page on Sunday. WYDaily is awaiting response from YPSO as to why the dogs were loose. The owner has since met with the emergency veterinarian.
After what YPSO calls a “thorough investigation,” it was determined that Dustin Lee Cheeseman, a 31-year-old male resident of the area in which the dogs were spotted, shot the dog. It was reported that the dog appeared to act aggressively towards Cheeseman and a neighbor prior to being shot.
Cheeseman was transported to Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail after being charged with Reckless Handling of a Firearm, Animal Cruelty, and Malicious Wounding of an Animal. He has since been released on an unsecured bond.
There is no word regarding the condition of the second dog.
YPSO emphasizes that if residents encounter an aggressive animal, they are to call 9-1-1 immediately.
WYDaily will continue to keep you up-to-date on this developing story as more information becomes available.