15 horses shot and killed, big reward for information

FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) — In Floyd County, over a dozen horses were shot and killed on an old strip mine and the sheriff’s department is determined to find whoever’s responsible. A story that’s making international headlines.

We have to warn you these pictures are graphic but needed to tell the story.

“I want whoever’s responsible to pay for what they’ve done. I can close my eyes and see it,” says Megan Goble with Dumas Animal Rescue.

She describes the massacre she witnessed – 15 horses laid out dead, shot and killed.

“I’ve seen all kinds of horrible things in regards to animals, but this was just different. And it’s definitely something that can’t be unseen and can’t be forgotten,” says Goble who has worked in rescue for years now.

The Floyd County Sheriff’s Department was called out to an old strip mine Monday near the Pike and Floyd County line, when someone reported five of their horses dead.

The rest were strays but Goble says they had been there for years and the community pitched in to care for them.

Some of the horses were pregnant and miscarried, some were yearlings, and foals.

“One had been shot in the face. There were several that had signs that they struggled before they laid there and died,” says Goble.

Detective Kevin Shepherd says the area could only be reached by ATVs and believes the weapon was a small caliber.

This would be painful anywhere but particularly in Kentucky the horse capital of the world.

“It was awful. 15 years of me working and I’ve never been involved with this many horses or livestock that were just shot down,” says Detective Kevin Shepherd.

He and Goble say the strip mine looked like a battlefield that day.

“I’m upset. I’m heartbroken. I’m mad and I’m scared because whoever done this is someone still walking around in our little community,” says Goble.

People around the world are coming together to raise a reward, up to $15,000 so far, for information leading to whoever did this.

“It’s a terrible terrible thing that they had to die but I don’t want their deaths to be in vain,” says Goble.

If you would like to donate to the reward, click here.

Anyone with information is asking to call the Floyd County Sheriff’s Department at (606) 886-6171.