Rooster Fatally Shot Near Home In West Chicago: Cops

WHEATON, IL — A West Chicago man faces felony and misdemeanor charges after police say he fatally shot his neighbor's rooster Monday.

Richard Meyers, 68, of the first block of Prince Crossing Road in unincorporated West Chicago, was charged with criminal damage to property and animal cruelty in connection with the incident.

The rooster was a free-range chicken owned by a family that live near Meyers. On Monday evening, the rooster was found not far from his home with a life-threatening gunshot wound to his stomach, according to a police report.

Meyers told police he initially used a BB gun to frighten off other chickens that entered his yard Monday. Per the police report, Meyers told officers he was aware the .22-caliber rifle would cause more harm to the rooster than the BB gun.

Meyers was taken into custody without incident, police say, and his gun was submitted as evidence.