Banksville man strikes plea deal in dog’s shooting death
A Banksville man who police say shot and killed his friend’s dog inside a house after a Super Bowl party made a plea deal with prosecutors and was sentenced to jail and probation.
Travis T. Hamilton, 23, was arrested for fatally shooting a 4- year- old boxer/ Labrador retriever named Lucy that belonged to Robin Lockhart. Mr. Hamilton was friends with Ms. Lockhart’s 22year- old son, Gage.
Appearing Wednesday before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Anthony M. Mariani, Mr. Hamilton pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and three counts of recklessly endangering another person. He also pleaded no contest to a firearms violation and aggravated cruelty to animals involving death.
The Allegheny County district attorney’s office said it agreed to a sentence within sentencing guidelines. Judge Mariani sentenced Mr. Hamilton on the gun charge to the six months that he had already served in the Allegheny County Jail and imposed another 11 ½ to 23 months in jail on the other charges.
The judge also sentenced Mr. Hamilton to seven years of probation, banned him from owning animals during probation, and ordered him to have no contact with the dog’s owners.
“They were very happy with that. They wanted justice for Lucy, and they believe that they got it,” said Pittsburgh police Officer Christine Luffey, who investigated the case. “They are absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the death of Lucy.”
Witnesses told police that early Feb. 4, following a Super Bowl party at Ms. Lockhart’s house on Belasco Avenue in Beechview, Mr. Hamilton shot Lucy, although the affidavit does not indicate that any of them saw the shooting.
All the witnesses were awakened by the sound of a gunshot about 2 a. m.
The dog died in Ms. Lockhart’s vehicle as she raced to an all- night veterinary clinic after she, her son and others in the house threw Mr. Hamilton out.
A police affidavit gave no motive for the shooting but said a man who was present — identified as Ryan Dorsch — told investigators that the dog “loved” Mr. Hamilton, who once pushed Lucy away, clenched his fist and yelled at the animal.
In court Wednesday, Mr. Hamilton tried to explain the shooting as an accident.
“Nobody bought the accident defense,” said Officer Luffey, who added that Mr. Hamilton had been in the military and therefore was familiar with guns.
Right after the shooting, Mr. Hamilton was walking around with his hands on his head, Ms. Lockhart told police.
Mr. Dorsch said he saw the handle of a handgun sticking out of Mr. Hamilton’s front pocket, the affidavit said.
Investigators never recovered the gun.