A Memphis neighborhood is reeling after a family dog was found shot to death in a drainage ditch behind a house on Lundee Place near Central Avenue, and police say the owner’s boyfriend is now facing felony charges.
Officers responded just after 8 a.m. Tuesday to an animal cruelty call, and quickly focused on the dog’s owner and her boyfriend, who were both detained at the scene. Police later identified the boyfriend as Joshua Minnis and said he is charged with intentional killing of an animal and aggravated animal cruelty. According to officers, Minnis is being held on a $15,000 bond.
Action News 5 reports that a neighbor in his backyard spotted the dog lying in the drainage ditch and recognized it as his neighbor’s pet. He told police he could see what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the dog’s head. When officers searched the property, they reported finding a blood-stained leash, drag marks leading from the back deck to the rear fence, and blood spots in the grass. Investigators said they also noticed what looked like blood on Minnis’ hoodie and boots while questioning him.
What police say investigators found
According to the account cited by Action News 5, the neighbor told officers he “noticed the gunshot wound to the dog’s head,” and investigators said the physical evidence suggested the animal had been moved before it was discovered in the ditch. Officers documented the blood on the leash, the drag marks running from the back deck toward the fence line, and blood spots where the dog was ultimately found. Police say those details helped lead them to detain the dog’s owner and Minnis as detectives worked through the case.
Charges and possible penalties
Minnis is facing counts that include intentional killing of an animal and aggravated cruelty to a companion animal, which Tennessee law treats as serious offenses. The Animal Legal & Historical Center’s summary of state law notes that aggravated cruelty applies when, “with aggravated cruelty and with no justifiable purpose, such person intentionally kills or intentionally causes serious physical injury to a companion animal.”
For sentencing, Tennessee’s guidelines list a Class E felony as carrying a potential term of one to six years in prison and fines up to $3,000, according to the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Any actual punishment, if Minnis is convicted, would ultimately depend on prosecutors’ charging decisions and how the court decides to handle the case.
How to report animal cruelty
Memphis Animal Services urges residents to speak up if they see suspected animal cruelty or an animal in immediate danger. For non-emergencies, the agency directs people to call the Memphis Police Department’s non-emergency line at 901-545-COPS; in urgent situations, they advise calling 911. The city’s animal services information explains that officers are dispatched through MPD and lays out when residents should specifically request an animal services officer, along with other available community resources.
Police say Minnis remains in custody while detectives continue to investigate. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office is expected to review the case and the charges. Officials are asking anyone with additional information to contact Memphis police or send tips through CrimeStoppers as the case moves forward.
