- Virginia, USA -
On Tuesday, February 8, 27-years-old RICHARD R. CHINAPPI III (pictured below), a Virginia police officer, has pleaded no contest to felony animal cruelty in the fatal shooting of his fiancée's dog.
The VOICELESS VICTIM, a Beagle-hound mix, was killed on October 9, 2021, at CHINAPPI’s home in the 6100 block of Walnut Tree Drive in Powhatan County.
CHINAPPI also pleaded guilty to giving a false report to police about how the furbaby was killed.
Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that “according to a summary of evidence by Powhatan Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Cerullo”, the night of the incident, CHINAPPI’s fiancée‘s father had called the Powhatan Sheriff’s Office reporting a bear attack at the home his daughter and CHINAPPI were sharing.
Responding deputies located CHINAPPI who showed signs of intoxication.
They then observed blood spatter on the kitchen island, pantry and refrigerator. There was also blood smeared on the floor, which appeared to be “semi-cleaned up.”
Deputies additionally noticed bloody Clorox wipes and a bottle of Clorox bleach.
When CHINAPPI was questioned by police, he initially gave a false version of the facts and reported that while he was in the bathroom, he heard footsteps coming from the back deck and the dog began barking and acting crazy. He realized a bear had entered his house so he grabbed a shotgun he kept in the bathroom and fired at the bear.
Police then asked CHINAPPI what happened to the dog and CHINAPPI said the bear carried the dog off.
While deputies could not find evidence of bear footprints or markings inside the home or near the home, they did find signs a weapon had been fired inside the house.
CHINAPPI’s initial version of events did not hold water and he then changed his story.
CHINAPPI told police he accidentally shot the dog while firing at the bear and then buried the dog in the woods near his home.
Remains of the furbaby were sent for a necropsy and results showed the furbaby had been shot at close range. There was a “huge hole” in the dog’s body along with remnants of shotgun pellets.
According to StarTribune, CHINAPPI was placed on administrative leave after his arrest and will remain on leave for the duration of his court case.
Richmond police spokeswoman Tracy Walker said: “Once concluded, the department will continue with our internal administrative process.”
Mark Bong, CHINAPPI’s attorney, wrote a letter to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services saying that his client intends to voluntarily surrender his law enforcement certification.
CHINAPPI will return to court on March 11, 2022, for sentencing.
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He's got crazy in his mis-aligned eyes. I don't even know what to say, anymore. Just wish I could kill all these rotten shit-bags. Send 'em all to hell. I'm sick from reading these pitiful stories.
This sucks to the nth degree! A Virginia police officer shoots & kills his fiancée’s dog in a drunken stupor (my words) then lies & blames it on an intruding menacing bear! Anyone associating with this heaping pile of bear poo better watch their backs…a killer, liar, & evidence destroyer. He is one of those that stains law enforcement! RIP BEAUTIFUL SOUL.