Woman, Man Charged In Dog's Shooting Death In Southington: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A Bristol woman and a Waterbury man have been charged by Southington police for animal cruelty following the Aug. 17 shooting death of a 7-year-old pit bull in town.

Southington police said the 24-year-old female suspect was taken into custody Thursday, while the 43-year-old male is incarcerated and was to be served charges at his next court appearance Friday, Dec. 1, in Waterbury Superior Court.

According to the SPD late Friday morning, Maurice McElrath, 43, of Ash Street, Waterbury, will be charged with cruelty to animals; criminal possession of a pistol/revolver; and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

Already in jail, McElrath's charges related to this incident carry a $25,000 bond.

Meanwhile, police said Karenlynne A. Gatling, 24, of Davis Drive, Bristol, was charged with cruelty to animals.

She has been released on a $2,500 bond and will appear in New Britain Superior Court Dec. 14.

According to the Southington Police Department, officers received a report Aug. 17 of a dog being shot at a local residence.

The complainant and the dog's owner told police she believed her 7-year-old pit bull had been shot as she found the canine dead inside her house.

Police said, at first, it was believed the dog may have been attacked by another dog.

But, police said, the complainant learned from a family member, Gatling, that a male acquaintance — later identified as McElrath — had shot the dog.

Police said McElrath said while leaving the house, the dog came outside through a canine door and was barking.

Southington police said Gatling confirmed the dog was shot, then left the home without calling the dog's owner or police for help.

"Gatling would not initially say who shot the dog," police wrote in a release Friday. "However, investigators learned a friend, Maurice 'Mo' McElrath, of Waterbury, had shot the dog."

Citing Gatling's testimony, police said she told investigators "she went back inside and found the dog, confirmed it was injured, got a washcloth to apply pressure to the hole, and then decided to leave the house to make it appear the incident occurred after she was gone."

Police said Gatling declined to cooperate with investigators following their initial contact and McElrath "refused to provide a statement to investigators."

Police said their probe "concluded Gatling knew the dog was shot and needed medical attention, yet left without contacting the dog's owner or emergency professionals to assist."

As a result, police said, she was charged with animal cruelty.

Meanwhile, police said they issued an arrest warrant for the alleged trigger man, McElrath, who is incarcerated and expected to be formally charged Friday, Dec. 1, his next regular court appearance.