Man Shoots Dog To Death In Joliet: Sheriff

JOLIET, IL - The Will County Sheriff's Department has put a man from Missouri in the Will County Jail after he admitted that he used a gun to kill his family's dog, according to police. Frank Hickmon was taken into custody by the Will County Sheriff's Department over the weekend. He has been charged aggravated cruelty to an animal, criminal damage to property, and reckless discharge of a firearm.

The dog's slaying occurred around 10:40 p.m. Saturday, June 23 in Joliet Township near Cherry Hill Road and Washington Street. Will County deputies were on patrol in the area when they heard gunshots ring out. Police dispatchers directed them to the 100 block of Barr Elms Avenue.

While the sheriff's deputies were trying to determine precisely where the gunshots came from, they encountered a juvenile boy and Frank Hickmon, whose dad owns the house.

"I just shot the dog," Frank Hickmon told sheriff's deputies, according to Will County Police.

According to police, Hickmon, who lives in Jefferson City, Missouri, was visiting his family in Joliet for the past week.

"During his stay, on multiple occasions he was very aggressive toward the dog, Loco. Earlier this day, Hickmon was again playing aggressively with the dog, a one and a half year old, Cane Corso. Hickmon had the dog in a ‘choke hold’ when the dog got angry and bit Hickmon in the arm," sheriff's police say.

According to police, Hickmon vowed "he was going to shoot the dog."

When Hickmon's family left the house on Saturday night for a brief period, Hickmon asked the juvenile to help him dig a hole behind the garage, police said.

Afterward, Hickmon instructed the boy to let the dog outside, police say.

Bullets were fired, killing the dog.

"Hickmon then buried the dog in the hole," sheriff's officials said.

At the scene, Will County deputies say they interviewed a woman who saw Hickmon "slapping, hitting and kicking the dog a day prior to this incident."

Hickmon will go before a Will County judge on Monday afternoon to have his bail set.

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Mugshot of Frank Hickmon via Will County Sheriff