On Friday August 14th around 8:30pm in Winter Park, a 70 year old man wearing what was described by Winter Park Police Officer Paul Foster as "a white plastic shell of some type," his wife and his dogs were approached by a 11 year old shelter dog with diabetes named Lily.
The man and one witness claimed it was aggressive and it wasn't the first time the dog had threatened them. A witness and the dog's owner say it was not aggressive. He shot the dog at close range with a shot shell containing 135 BBs in what police determined to be self defense.
Online reaction was swift Friday night:
- 413 shares on this Facebook post featuring a detailed story by eyewitness
- Facebook page called George Allan Burdock Shooter of Lily
- Petition online to get charges to be filed
- Online funding page to help with Lily's medical billscosts.
The Big questions
1. Why was the shooter George Allan Burdock not charged with a crime?
- Because of the facts as the officer knew them, along with Burdock's age and physical condition and Burdock's stated prior experience concerning the dog, the officer felt Burdock acted in self defense when he was in fear for his, his wife's and his animal's safety. No charges were filed.
2. Why was Burdock even carrying a gun?
- Burdock told police he had a gun for protection in Winter Park because he had a back brace after a recent back surgery. The surgery apparently rendered his self defense skills powerless.
- He was carrying a concealed weapons license when speaking to the police.
3. Lily's owner claimed that Burdock could have accidentally shot her as well as the dog, since the dog was within two feet of her. Could he have shot her by accident when he shot the dog?
- No. Lily's owner, Ann Elizabeth showed the police that her hands were almost to Lily's collar when Burdock shot her dog. However, witness Richard Blake Frazier said "She did not have (the dog) under control nor was she close to the dog. The dog was well out of arms reach." The officer said had she had her hands as close to the collar as she said she did, she would have been shot. She was not shot. The short barrel of the gun would allow the pellets to expand as they exited from the barrel, and with her not receiving any injuries from the shot shell or being hit by the shot shell (approximately 135 pellets in one shell) she was not as close to her dog as she believed.
4. Lily's owner claims the dog was 12 feet away from Burdock and Ioana.
- Zachary Blair (witness) said she was 5 feet away
- Burdock said she was 6 feet away
- The officer believed the dog was closer than 12 feet due to the dog receiving her injury in one localized area. If it had been further away, the BBs would have covered a larger area of the dog's body.
- Ms Christensen claims the dog was running "just like any dog would run to meet other dogs."
- Witness Richard Blake Frazier said he saw the dog "in an aggressive manner"
6. Statements:
- Ann Elizabeth Christensen (Lily's owner): She was getting ready to walk her dog and she saw her friend Zach across the street from her house. As the two spoke, the dog walked up the street without the owner. She called the dog and "started to put the leash on her" because she saw a couple approaching on the same sidewalk as she and Zach were on. As she approached the dog from behind, she reached for the collar. Ms Christensen claims the couple was 12 feet away. At that moment, Burdock said "Get your dog." The owner said "That's what I'm doing." The man pulled out a pistol and "with no hesitation" fired at the dog. She said "Oh my God. What did you do?" The man replied in a very calm voice "I shot your dog." Ioana and Burdock walked "with no concern or remorse" for her dog "or me." Christensen claims Burdock could have accidentally shot her as well as the dog, since the dog was within two feet of her.
- Burdock (the shooter): The dog had a vicious nature. That night, as he, his corgis and Ioana were out walking, the vicious and unleashed dog rounded the corner and approached them. He warned the owner to "get control of" the dog or he would shoot it. The owner did nothing. Lily was 6 feet away from Ioana, the corgis and him, and was about to leap on Burdock. Just as the dog was "getting into it's crouch," he shot the dog in the eye.
- Iona (his wife): Ioana agreed with Burdock's statement, saying Lily was lunging at them "with the intent to bite." Burdock shot Lily out of self defense.
- Zachary Blair (Witness): He and Ms Christensen were standing in the street in front of his house. The dog was not on a leash. She was putting the leash on when Lily noticed dogs across the street. Lily "got loose" from not ever being on a leash to cross the street. Ms Christensen ran after screaming "Lily" 3 times. Lily was 5 feet away from Burdock. Burdock shot the dog and said "You're dog is aggressive. I Shot your dog." Ms Christensen said "With what?" He claims both Burdock and Ioana kept repeating "She's aggressive" while walking off.
- Richard Blake Frazier (Witness): He saw Lily running "in an aggressive manner" at something in a yard. "She did not have (Lily) under control nor was she close to the dog. The dog was well out of arms reach." He heard a gunshot and saw the dog whimpering and running away. Ms Christensen was "cussing and screaming."
Observations:
7. Burdock and his wife Ioana previously felt Lily was a danger
- Ioana said Lily had attacked them before, that Lily "always charges us."
- Burdock says Lily was 2-3 times the size of his corgis
8. Lily was rarely on a leash
- On the night of the shooting, the owner Ms Christensen didn't put the leash on before she let Lily out of the house. She did't put the leash on while standing in the street talking to Blair. She claims she only tried to put the leash on when Burdock and Ioana approached.
- Iaona claims her leashless state was not an uncommon site. She also stated Lily rarely had a collar on either.
9. The dog was shot with a BB shot shell
10. Why did Burdock empty his gun?
- After the questioning, the officer asked to see the ammunition. The round has a silver or aluminum casing with a clear blue plastic top. Inside the blue plastic were little round balls that looked like BBs. There are approximately 135 pellets in one shell. The officer says this ammunition is known under three terms: shot shell, rat shot and snake bite.
10. Why did Burdock empty his gun?
- Out of six cylinders inside the man's gun, only one had a round in it, and it had been fired. The officer asked why he only had one round inside his gun. The man explained that after he shot the dog's eye, he walked back home with his wife and his corgis and emptied out the un-fired rounds. No explanation was given as to the purpose of this move.