Man Reportedly Shoots Family Dog, Threatens To Shoot Wife, Son

DUNEDIN, FL – Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Dunedin man for reportedly pointing a gun at his family, killing the family dog and then pointing a gun at a deputy.

Sheriff’s deputies received a call about a domestic dispute and shots fired at a home in the 1000 block of Suemar Road, Dunedin, at 5:58 p.m. Wednesday, July 4.

When deputies arrived, they could hear a male yelling inside the home. Deputies set a perimeter around the home and made contact with two people in the house, who both left the home at the request of deputies.

They told deputies that 71-year-old David Wheeler had shot and killed the family dog and was still inside the home armed with a handgun.

Deputies say prior to shooting the dog, David Wheeler made threats to kill his 68-year-old wife and pointed a .45-caliber handgun at her.

His 32-year-old son to intervene but David Wheeler threatened to shoot his son and then himself.

Deputies were trying to establish communication with Wheeler when he was spotted pointing a handgun through the front window of the home at a deputy.

Deputies spent over an hour trying to convince Wheeler to exit the home peacefully with no success.

At approximately 3:35 a.m. on July 5, Wheeler voluntarily walked out of the home and was taken into custody without incident.

Wheeler was transported to the Pinellas County Jail and charged with two counts of aggravated assault (domestic), one count of animal cruelty and one count of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. Wheeler will also receive a mental health evaluation.

Deputies seized a number of handguns, rifles and shotguns from Wheeler's home.

Image via Pinellas Sheriff

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