Missoula cat abuse suspect dead after police standoff Play Video
Posted: Feb 4, 2010 2:07 PM
Updated: Feb 5, 2010 10:18 AM
MISSOULA - Missoula police officials say that a man who was implicated in the abuse of a tiny kitten has apparently shot himself.
The shooting happened after a week during which the community expressed outrage over the death of the kitten who had been dubbed "Mercy".
The Missoula Police Department blocked off Dore Lane and 38th Street Thursday afternoon after officers went over the suspect's house to serve an arrest warrant for aggravated animal cruelty in connection to the severe injuries to a 4-month old kitten.
Click here to watch the news report video.
Click here to watch RAW video from the scene of the standoff.
Click here to watch RAW video from the Missoula PD press conference.
Missoula Police Sergeant Travis Welsh says when officers decided to go into the house to serve the warrant they heard one shot fired. The officers then backed out of the home and called for backup because they didn't know if the shot was directed at them.
"Other officers responded. Tactical officers, negotiators, perimeters were set, and an entry was made into the residence where the male subject was found and he is deceased at this time" Welsh explained.
Police say it looks like the man took his own life. It also appears that the man lived by himself and no one else was in the house during the incident. 
"We were immediately concerned for the residences in the area and pedestrians, and obviously vehicle traffic, and it was necessary to shut down streets and put security around the area" Welsh said.
The name of the suspect is not being released at this time and the Missoula County Sheriff's Department is conducting a coroner's investigation into the man's death.
The situation all began on Sunday night when Missoula police responded to a home on 38th Street after neighbors reported screaming coming from inside.
Once officers arrived they found the 4-month old kitten "Mercy" soaking wet, bloody and unresponsive. Missoula Animal Control officials say the suspect tried to flush the kitten down the toilet. They also believed the suspect either stomped on it or threw it against the wall.
The kitten was then taken to Pruyn Veterinarian in Missoula, but because of the extent of it's spinal injuries, it was taken to Washington State University Veterinary Teaching hospital in Pullman because they had MRI equipment.
However, on Wednesday afternoon the kitten was euthanized because a MRI showed it had a broken back.
Missoula police officials have confirmed that a a man who was implicated in the abuse of a tiny kitten has apparently shot himself.
The shooting happened after a week during which the community expressed outrage over the death of the kitten who had been dubbed "Mercy". The cat was put down because of its serious injuries yesterday.
Missoula police say officers had arrived at the cat owner's home shortly after 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, prepared to serve a warrant for Aggravated Animal Cruelty. But a spokesman says as an officer approached the man's apartment, they heard a gunshot. Not being sure where the shot was directed, officers retreated and called for help.
Patrol officers sealed off the entire neighborhood around Dora Lane and 38th, which is just east of the K Mart in South Missoula. A SWAT team was also called to the scene and officers about 90-minutes to secure the scene and enter the man's apartment.
Missoula Police Department Sargent Travis Welsh tells Montana's News Station officers found the man dead inside of what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officers are still investigating the incident.
The Missoula Police Department has confirmed that the suspect in the kitten abuse case that has stirred high emotions in Missoula has killed himself.
Police officials tell our reporter on the scene that they arrived to further investigate the case of animal cruelty and that it appears that the suspect took his own life. Police also tell us that only one shot was fired during the standoff.
We are receiving reports that the standoff on 38th Street between the man accused of abusing a kitten who eventually had to be put down, has ended.
Missoula County Sheriff Mike McMeekin, who also serves as a coroner, has arrived on the scene and our reporter says that an ambulance was seen leaving 38th Street without its lights on.
Missoula police are surrounding an apartment in South Missoula at this hour, where a man believed to have been involved in a high-profile kitten abuse case lives.
Officers responded to the scene around 1:20 this afternoon and have sealed off the neighborhood around Dore Lane and 38th Street. That's directly east of the K Mart on Brooks.
An MPD spokesman tells Montana's News Station reporters on the scene officers have surrounded the unit where the man lives, and a SWAT team is being brought to the scene. Officers have not entered the house as of 2:30 p.m.
Some residents with children living on 38th Street are being evacuated to the K Mart parking lot. on Brooks Street. In addition, Dore Lane is closed and residents on nearby Roy Drive are being told to stay in their homes.
There's no immediate word on what started the standoff, or whether in fact the man is in the house, or armed.
This new incident comes just four days after the community learned of the abuse of "Mercy", a tiny kitten who was recovered with severe injuries. The cat had to be put down yesterday because of its severe injuries. Police had been investigating the case but no charges had been filed.
pd at Feb 4th 2010 4:24 PM
I'm from and in New York state. What the heck is going on in over there!! A hostage situation with a cat killer?
Crystal Parker at Feb 4th 2010 4:41 PM
Yeah, not just killer. He adopted the little kitten just to torture her. He stomped on her and tried to flush her down the toilet (according to the newspaper). :-(
Tim at Feb 4th 2010 4:42 PM
Yes pd this is how dangerous Missoula is. We take our cat murderers very seriously. It's a really hostile environment here... I wouldn't wanna raise my cat here. We might be requesting the National Guard assistance soon too and supply them with catnip and furballs to persue this madman!
cody at Feb 8th 2010 1:09 PM
its the principle of the situation not that its a cat. how would you feel if it were your son or daughter that he was abusing how would you feel then...
KRA at Feb 4th 2010 4:57 PM
It is not just about a kitten; it is about the type of sick people in our society. Many abuser's start with animals and work there way up to children. So you may think it is a joke but this man could esculate his abuse next time.