Man Sentenced for Killing Neighbor Over Dog Poop

A Philadelphia man will spend 20 to 40 years behind bars for killing his neighbor in a dispute over dog waste.

A judge on Friday sentenced 28-year-old Tyrirk Harris in the February 2012 shooting death of Franklin Manuel Santana.

Prosecutors say the 47-year-old victim confronted Harris on February 14 about not cleaning up after his German shepherd and Chihuahua. They say Harris pulled a gun and shot his unarmed neighbor once in the face and four times in the back.

“An animal only would get a gun and shoot somebody over something so senseless, so unimportant” said Casandra Perez, Santana’s cousin. “He could have just called the cops and try to resolve this amicably.”

Neighbors said Santana wasn’t the first person to complain.

“I know a few times we have said something to him about that little dog, the Chihuahua,” said David Cheatley, Santana’s neighbor.

A jury convicted Harris of third-degree murder on Feb. 1.

Harris testified that he acted in self-defense because Santana threatened him over the dogs.


 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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