Dispute over dog leads to fatal shooting

LENOIR, N.C., May 28 (UPI) -- Authorities in Caldwell County, N.C., allege a man was fatally shot by deputies after a dispute over a dog led him to wound four people, including a child.

Authorities allege the man, whose identity was not released, shot his neighbor and the man's 8-year-old daughter after they became embroiled over the death of the man's dog, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer said Thursday.

The incident began when the unidentified gunman's dog killed his neighbor's cat Wednesday night, prompting the neighbor, whose identity was also not released, to shoot and kill the dog.

The ensuing argument between the two men escalated until the gunman shot and wounded both the neighbor and the man's daughter, authorities allege. Both the father and his daughter, identified as Ashley Moore, were seriously wounded in the incident.

The shooting led to a police standoff with the gunman in which two deputies were wounded and the man was fatally shot, the Observer said.

One of the wounded deputies was treated and released with a minor arm injury, while the other officer was said to be in stable condition.