Muskogee County Family Shocked To Find Horse Shot, Killed

A Muskogee County family is sickened after someone intentionally shot and killed one of their horses.

For a family that has always had horses and loved them for generations, they're having a hard time understanding how someone could do such a thing to an animal that is helpless and harmless.

Horse owner Stanley Milligan never would have imagined something so terrible and senseless would happen to his horse.

"I think she had her head down and they pulled up on her, and she looked up. Hit her right here and then right there, when she turned to run, she headed that way and they hit her in the rump,” Stanley said.

Sometime Sunday morning between eight and 11, Milligan's horse, a ten-year-old thoroughbred named Sugar, was shot and killed on family property near Keefeton.

"There's somebody shooting livestock, them people is not worth hanging, the way I look at it,” said Stanley.

Since the horse was hit by three bullets, there's no chance it was an accident and the family is taking the death of Sugar hard.

"I just kind of drop my head and it's a hard lick to take you know,” Harlis Milligan said.

Stanley said, "It's like losing a family member really."

Stanley had hoped the mare would have colts he could give to each of his grandchildren.

"What kind of people would do it you know? If they'd do that to an animal what would they do to a human," Stanley wondered.

The Milligan's have lived in Keefeton all their lives, know and get along with everyone, and haven't had any confrontations, which makes the death of Sugar even harder to understand.

"I sat out on the pond bank last night, so the coyotes wouldn't eat on her all night,” Harlis said.

While the investigation is underway, the family is moving other horses away from the property. They want neighbors and others in the area to know about the shooting, and also take precautions and be aware.