A Monday afternoon home invasion in unincorporated Naperville ended with a man pepper-sprayed inside his apartment and his 3-year-old dog fatally shot, authorities said. Two people are now facing felony charges in a case that has drawn an unusually blunt condemnation from DuPage County’s top prosecutor.
Andre Bridges, 35, of DeKalb, and Nicole Smith, 40, of Naperville, are accused of breaking into the apartment in the 30W000 block of Capistrano Court, according to NBC Chicago. Authorities said the pair faces charges including felony home invasion causing injury, home invasion while armed with a firearm, aggravated cruelty to animals and unlawful use of a weapon.
DuPage County sheriff’s deputies responded around 1:15 p.m. Monday after receiving a home-invasion report. Officers secured the scene, gathered evidence, canvassed the neighborhood and interviewed witnesses before detectives identified Bridges and Smith through investigative leads and search warrants.
Two Defendants Ordered Held Until Trial
Bridges and Smith appeared in court Wednesday and were ordered detained until their trials. DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin called the alleged attack on the resident and the shooting of the dog “heartbreaking and extremely disturbing,” as reported by NBC Chicago.
Charges Include Home Invasion And Animal Cruelty
The case combines allegations of an armed break-in, an injury to the apartment resident and the killing of an animal inside the home. The charges are accusations, not findings of guilt, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the alleged invasion or identified the dog by name. The investigation and court proceedings remain ongoing.
