Police: Man Shoots, Kills Own Dog

(Cordova, TN) 55-year-old Onias Bishop is behind bars after Memphis Police say he shot and killed his own dog.

According to police reports, Monday afternoon Bishop’s dog bit 10-year-old Brandon Cho Min.

Brandon’s mother Julie said her son was bleeding and she went to Bishop to ask questions, “They said I should find out if the dog has all the shots, vaccinations. So I went to the house and the dog was coming at me.”

She said Bishop didn’t give her much of an answer and when she turned to leave, the dog bit her as well.

“He was sitting on the porch, he was so sleepy or something like that, even though I was so emotional,” said Julie who wasn’t going call police, until she was bitten.

According to police, that’s when Bishop took the dog to the back yard and shot it.

According to a police affidavit, Bishop’s daughter told police he laid beside the dog and pulled the trigger because he didn’t want animal control to take the animal.

Memphis police say Bishop smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and was unstable on his feet when they arrived.

Julie thinks alcohol is the reason the situation grew out of control, “Even though he bites and was terrible I don’t think he should have killed it.”

Neighbor Anita Hunter said she’s have never had any issues with Bishop or his dog before, “It was unexpected, I’m not sure what, he’s never bitten anyone before in the neighborhood. He’s kind of a little skittish.”

Bishop is facing charges for Aggravated Cruelty to Animals and Public Intoxication.

He was behind bars on a $5,000 bond.