An Ottumwa man is accused of recklessly firing a gun in a neighborhood and keeping a pair of dogs that were shot when confronted by police.
44-year-old Christopher Shepherd was charged with reckless use of a firearm (simple misdemeanor), possession of a firearm by a felon (Class D felony), driving while barred (aggravated misdemeanor), and three counts of violating Ottumwa’s dangerous animal ordinance (simple misdemeanor).
On May 1, court records say Shepherd fired multiple rounds into a wooded area while in a vehicle on the 2900 block of Branham Avenue in Ottumwa. No person or property was injured. Shepherd was convicted of a felony twice, making it illegal for him to possess a firearm. Shepherd is also barred from driving a vehicle as of March 2022.
On April 30, officers responded to the 400 block of Herman Avenue on a report of two dogs–one pit bull and one German Shepherd–running loose and acting aggressively, according to court documents. Both dogs attempted to attack law enforcement and were shot. Shepherd admitted having custody of the dogs and was arrested and later released.
Shepherd is currently in the Wapello County Jail on a $5,000 bond in the May 1 case.
