TENNESSEE MAN CHARGED AFTER SECURITY VIDEO CONTRADICTS CLAIMS IN FATAL SHOOTING OF NEIGHBOR’S DOG
A Monroe County family is demanding accountability after their 6-year-old daughter’s beloved dog was shot and killed by a neighbor on Oct. 22.
According to an affidavit from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, 39-year-old Nicholas Scott Cook shot the family dog, named Briar, three times on Wilson Station Road.
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The Incident: Deputies responded to the home of Sydni and Tyler Watkins, finding the dog dead with multiple gunshot wounds.
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Disputed Claims: Cook initially claimed to deputies that the dog had been chasing chickens on his property and that neighborhood dogs had been a recurring issue.
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Video Evidence: Security footage provided by Cook himself contradicted his statement, showing the dog simply standing in his yard licking an empty silver pan with no chickens nearby.
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Fatal Third Shot: According to the affidavit, investigator reviews and admissions from Cook revealed that after the dog was initially struck and fled toward the property line, Cook approached the wounded animal while it was still alive and fired a third shot.
The Watkins family expressed deep devastation, noting that their young daughter was outside at the time of the shooting. Cook has been charged with knowingly killing an animal and was booked and released from the Monroe County jail the same day.
