NFL Player Kicked Ex-Girlfriend's Dog Multiple Times: Police Report

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Former Atlanta Falcons football player Prince Shembo allegedly kicked his ex-girlfriend’s dog multiple times, resulting in its death, according to a Gwinnett Police incident report obtained by Patch.

Shembo, charged with felony animal cruelty charges in the death of Denicia Williams’ Yorkie named Dior, also apparently told his ex that he might leave the country, “because he knows how much time he would do in prison for animal cruelty,” the police report stated.

The incident report seems to contradict what Shembo’s lawyer Jerry Froelich told reporters Friday, explaining that his client kicked the dog after it had bitten the NFL player, but it was a reflex reaction.

Shembo was released by the Falcons soon after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

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Williams disputed the lawyer’s claim that Dior’s death was an accident, telling WXIA-TV that she thinks Shembo was jealous of the dog, but Froelich told the TV station, “What caused the dog’s injuries was that the dog bit him.”

An outside linebacker for the Falcons and a resident of Buford, Shembo turned himself into the Gwinnett County Jail Friday night and was released after posting a bond of $16,700.

He is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly kicking and causing the death of the dog last month at his apartment in the Century at Mill Creek Apartments on Mall of Georgia Boulevard. If convicted, he could face up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $15,000, the Gwinnett Daily Post reported.

According to the police report from the April 15 incident, Williams told police she and Dior had gone to Shembo’s apartment, and after some time she called for Dior, but the dog did not come. She found Dior unresponsive, but still alive, in a dog crate.

The dog’s eyes were open but he was unable to drink water and had no reaction when Williams poured water on him.

Dior died later at the Duluth Animal Hospital; Williams was told by the vet that the dog had died from a brain aneurysm, according to the police report.

Williams reportedly spoke with Shembo the next day and told him she prayed all night, asking for answers on what happened to the dog.

According to the police report, “[Williams] stated that the suspect stated ‘What if I told you I kicked your dog.’… She asked the suspect if it was just once and the suspect stated ‘No.’”

Williams apparently broke off the relationship at that point.

In a news release last week, police said the deceased dog was taken to the Gwinnett County Animal Shelter to undergo a necropsy on April 21. Tissue samples were then sent to the University of Georgia for further testing.

The results were completed May 28: Dior had significant internal injuries and the cause of death was determined to be by blunt force trauma, police spokesperson Cpl. Michele Pihera said.

Because of the inconsistencies in Shembo’s account of what happened, and the results of the necropsy, an arrest warrant was issued, police said.

According to the warrant, the dog “had a fractured rib, fractured liver, abdominal hemorrhage, thoracic hemorrhage, extensive bruising and hemorrhage in muscles in front leg and shoulders, head trauma, hemorrhage and edema in lungs, hemorrhage between the esophagus and trachea, and hemorrhage in the left eye with internal injuries.”

The Falcons released Shembo not long after police informed the NFL team of the arrest warrant. In a statement, the team said:

“We are aware of the charges that have been filed against Prince Shembo. We are extremely disappointed that one of our players is involved in something like this. Accordingly, we have decided to waive Prince Shembo.”

Shembo, a 2014 fourth-round draft pick by Atlanta from the University of Notre Dame, was entering his second NFL season.

(Photos: Prince Shembo. Gwinnett County Jail mugshot. “Dior.” Gwinnett Police PIO)