LANCASTER, Pa., Feb. 13 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania man faces charges he fatally shot a horse pulling a buggy carrying an Amish family, authorities say.
Timothy Antonio Diggs Jr., 22, of Ronks, was charged Wednesday with five counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count each of propulsion of missiles and cruelty to animals, the news website LancasterOnline reported.
Diggs, who allegedly shot the horse in East Lampeter Township Nov. 24, was identified by investigators as a suspect within days with the help of tips from the public, police said.
"This obviously was a very alarming crime ... We feel a deep gratification in making this arrest," East Lampeter Township police Lt. Robin Weaver said.
"[Diggs] showed a great indifference to human life, not to mention the life of the horse. It's a miracle none of the family was hurt."
LancasterOnline said the Amish couple and their three children heard a noise like a firecracker that spooked their horse, but made it home about a mile away before realizing the horse had been wounded in the chest. The animal died before a veterinarian arrived.
A Dec. 2 search of Diggs' home allegedly turned up guns and a motorcycle stolen in area burglaries. Weaver said one of the stolen weapons allegedly was used to shoot the horse.
Diggs has been incarcerated in lieu of $250,000 bail on stolen property charges since the day after the search.
