EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Authorities are seeking information regarding the death of a family dog in East El Paso.
Crime Stoppers of El Paso took to social media on Friday seeking information after Emma, a six-year-old Chihuahua, was found dead in her owner’s backyard on May 5, allegedly shot by a pellet gun.
Crime Stoppers believes the incident happened on May 4, at the 9300 block of W H Burges Drive near where Montwood Drive and Viscount Boulevard meet, between 2:50 p.m. and midnight.
Anyone with information is urged to call 915-566-8477 or drop a tip online at CSElPaso.org.
All tipsters will remain anonymous and if their tip leads to an arrest could get a cash reward.
RELATED: East El Paso man seeks answers after dog found shot in backyard, police investigating
On May 14, KFOX14/CBS4 spoke with the owner, whose seeking answers regarding what happened.
“So I was working. I work at a hospital here, nightshift. And when I went out for my lunch around 3 a.m., I just came home, ate dinner, and right before I left, I always check on my dogs to see if they have water or if they need food,” Magallanes said.
Magallanes said he went into the yard and noticed blood and what appeared to be a wound.
“I went straight to the yard, and then I tried to clean the blood on the side of the hip, and then I saw like a hole. So I, I took a couple of pictures, I made a quick video, and I called 911,” he said.
Magallanes said a necropsy, an animal autopsy, later determined Emma had been shot with a pellet gun.
“The necropsy came back, it was a pellet gun. Uh, there’s not really a way to track it, and they’re doing the investigation,” he said.
Magallanes said he has since filed a police report with the El Paso Police Department.
KFOX14/CBS4 obtained a copy of that police report, where investigators confirm an investigation into the incident has been opened.
However, police did not provide any further details on the incident or on the suspect.
Meanwhile, for Magallanes, the shooting has left him worried not only for his pets but also for his children.
“I have kids, and they shot in on my yard. It was an open fire in my backyard. What if one of my kids was outside? This is something that we cannot just let pass,” Magallanes said.
Magallanes described the emotional toll in the immediate aftermath.
“The first day, I was not thinking clearly,” Magallanes said. “I came in, and I was like, well, I started crying.”
Magallanes also appealed directly to whoever shot his dog.
“Well, whoever shot Emma, I don’t know what she did to make you feel like that,” Magallanes said.
Magallanes encouraged other pet owners to take extra precautions at home.
“Make sure that you have your property secure. Yeah. So we thought we were secure in our property. And I just find out that we’re, we’re not. So make sure to try to have some, some sort of surveillance cameras and take a good look at your dogs every day. Cause you’ll never know,” Magallanes said.
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