Thursday, November 14, 2024

4 implicated in shooting of Virginia Beach police officer’s dog during break-in

Police believe four people planned a break in at a Virginia Beach police officer’s home on Dec. 17, 2017, but were deterred by the family dog. Zulu, the Scurry family pit bull, was shot as she defended the home. (Courtesy of GoFundMe)

VIRGINIA BEACH — Teenagers are facing felony charges after they allegedly broke into a Virginia Beach police officer’s house and shot the family dog, officials say.

Police believe four people worked together to break into Virginia Beach Police Department Officer J. Scurry’s home near Gravenhurst Drive around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday with the intent of burglarizing it.

The would-be burglars were stopped by the family pit bull, Zulu, who was shot as he chased the suspects out of the home.

Charged are 18-year-old Lundon Lamar Starke, of Virginia Beach and a 17-year-old, who police have not named.

Starke is charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, coming into a home with the intent to commit a felony, shooting in a public place and animal cruelty in connection to the attempted burglary, according to the General District Court Online Case Information System.

Lundon Lamar Starke, 18, is one of several people accused of breaking into a Virginia Beach Police Department officer’s home and shooting the family pit bull. (Courtesy of the VBPD)

Starke is also charged with possession of a gun by a non-violent felony and receiving or buying stolen goods for an incident that allegedly occurred on Tuesday, according to CIS.

The 17-year-old was charged with armed burglary, conspiracy and animal cruelty, said VBPD spokeswoman Linda Kuehn.

Kuehn added that charges are pending against two other juveniles who police believe were involved in the crime.

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $7,300 for Zulu’s medical care at Blue Pearl Vet Hospital in Virginia Beach

“Zulu did what he was trained to do, and defended his family by confronting the suspects,” the GoFundMe page reads. “Unfortunately, as Zulu was defending his family in their own home, one of the suspects fired two shots, both of which struck Zulu.”

Kuehn said that Zulu is doing well and will hopefully be released back to his family soon.

Send news tips to adrienne.m@wydaily.com.

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