After allegedly shooting a dog in the head last summer, a St. Paul man faces an animal abuse allegation.
On Friday, Rondie King, 48, was charged in Ramsey County.
On June 13, 2021, St. Paul police arrived to an alley behind the 1000 block of Wakefield Avenue to find a German Shepherd with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the criminal complaint. Next to the dog was a spent 9mm casing.
Surveillance footage from the vicinity shows a white vehicle with no license plates speeding away shortly after the gunshot. The van’s owner, who was also the dog’s owner, was recognized by police. At the time of the event, she was living with King.
Police discovered Facebook chats between the owner and King, which showed the two of them discussing the dog, Rocco, after obtaining a search warrant. Rocco had removed King’s son’s meal earlier that night, according to the texts, and King was enraged with Rocco. Later, Rocco bit King.
The next morning, Rocco’s owner vowed to send him to the humane society, but King claimed he could “take care of the dog.”
Rocco’s owner stated in a post-Miranda interview that she got home between 4 and 5 a.m. and took Rocco for a walk. King is said to have pulled up alongside her and told her to get in the car with him. He left her in the house and returned later without Rocco.
King has a history of first-degree assault convictions. He may face up to two years in jail if convicted of animal maltreatment.
