AUTHORITIES investigate the killing of two horses in East Tulsa

Another case of animal cruelty is under investigation in Green Country. But this time, the victims aren't your average household pets. Tulsa Police want to know who shot two horses at the Brashears

Friday, July 6th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Another case of animal cruelty is under investigation in Green Country. But this time, the victims aren't your average household pets. Tulsa Police want to know who shot two horses at the Brashears Riding Ranch at 11th and 161st East Avenue.

KOTV's Heather Brooker the ranch is normally a peaceful riding ranch turned into a crime scene. Ranch owner Edsel Brashears, "neighbor called me this morning and said I had a horse laying down over there. I went over there and you could see the bullet holes pretty plain there." He found one of his horses shot in the stomach and another struggling to survive a gunshot wound. The horse was eventually put down. Edsel Brashears has run his riding ranch for 20 years. He says he can't believe someone would do this to his animals. "They was standing right next to the road there, they just shot over the fence as they drove by."

Police say they found 9mm shell casings next to where the horses were shot. Brashears says, "they say they have no witness, no leads and no suspects to the murder of these 2 horses." Next door neighbor, James Garbbard says he saw the horse Thursday morning on his way back from the store. "When I come back it was still laying there. and I said there's something the matter with this. So I pulled over and looked at him and he had a bullet hole in him." Garbbard adds, "I don't know why somebody would just shoot a horse. Itâ€™s kind of gross."

The killing of the horses, Spec and Trigger, will cost Brashears around $1,800. But he says he's lost more than money in this act of cruelty, he's lost his friends. "They was just good gentle riding horses, they didn't deserve that."

If you have any information about the shooting of the two horses, call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS. You can remain anonymous.