Police: Man charged with killing cat told them he tossed it in the air before shooting it with a shotgun

Sunday, January 19, 2014

HOUSTON - A 24-year-old Southeast Texas man who told authorities he killed a stray cat by throwing it into the air and shooting it with a shotgun because it was sick is charged with animal cruelty.

The Harris County sheriff's office said Sunday that Joseph D. Morgan has been charged with cruelty to animal/torture with firearm.

A deputy on Saturday found the cat's body near the San Jacinto River after getting a complaint about a gunshot. The deputy was told Morgan had shot the cat.

Morgan, a Harris County resident, said the stray was sick and needed to be euthanized, so he shot it with a shotgun loaded with bird shot.

He remained in Harris County jail Sunday on $10,000 bond. The jail did not have an attorney listed for him.