Man accused of shooting dog with BB gun in North Fort Myers

Published: Updated:
Anthony Scott Hallmon, 34. Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

A man accused of breaking into a home and shooting a dog in the Suncoast Estates community of North Fort Myers was arrested Tuesday.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, suspect Anthony Scott Hallmon, 34, entered a home on McDaniel Drive uninvited and fired what looked like a black handgun at a dog that is accused of biting him.

“This criminal’s actions are outrageous,” said Sheriff Carmine Marceno in the post. “The violence toward this defenseless dog will not be tolerated. Residents and their families, including pets, will be safe here … and my team will see to it.”

The dog is a brown and white male pit bull named Safari, who was found with a small hole in his snout. He was taken to Lee County Domestic Animal Services, where he is being treated for his injuries.

According to the arrest report, a witness tried to stand between Safari and Hallmon, but she told investigators he threatened to shoot her if he didn’t move away.

Safari is expected to survive and make a full recovery.

“It’s not a good medical situation when the dog is shot in the face,” said Dr. Tom Gillespie, a veterinarian at South Trail Animal Hospital. “I’m glad to hear that the dog appears to be doing alright.”

Lee County deputies say Hallmon crashed his scooter near a home at McDaniel Drive and Cantor Lane, and Safari charged at him and bit him in the ankle. That’s when deputies say he threatened to return to kill the dog.

Gillespie says safari was just doing what he thinks he’s supposed to do.

“The dog was just protecting its property most likely,” Gillespie said.

Deputies say a woman tried to hide the dog at a home nearby. Hallmon broke into that home with a BB .177 handgun and threatened to shoot the woman if she didn’t move. He shot Safari in the snout and ran away.

“There are authorities to take care of things like that,” Gillespie said. “Animal Control if the dog is indeed vicious. Animal Control would be the person to call to take care of something like that.”

Deputies found and arrested Hallmon less than an hour later. During the arrest, detectives found fentanyl in his possession.

Hallmon faces charges for animal cruelty, burglary with assault and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

Hallmon was released from the Lee County Jail later Tuesday on $65,000 bond.

Click here to see Hallmon’s arrest as well as Safari being kept safe.

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