2nd man charged in shotgun killing of cat

TEXAS -- A second Houston-area man has been charged after a stray black cat apparently was throw into the air and then fatally shot.

Alexander Marsh

The Harris County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday announced 18-year-old Alexander Marsh of League City faces a felony animal cruelty charge in Saturday's killing. Marsh was not immediately taken into custody.

Deputies initially charged 24-year-old Joseph Morgan of Highlands with cruelty to animals-torture with a firearm.

A deputy found the cat's body near the San Jacinto River after getting a complaint about a gunshot and a report that Morgan was responsible.

Joseph D. Morgan

Investigators say Morgan told them he found a stray, sick cat that needed to be euthanized, so he threw the animal into the air and opened fire with a shotgun loaded with birdshot.

Marsh allegedly helped.

Another article stated...The cat was blasted about 20 feet through the air, hit the ground, and reportedly struggled for some time before finally dying.

 Morgan has not denied any of the above, however, he told deputies that the act was one of compassion, that the pair had found an old, sick stray cat, and decided to euthanize him using the shotgun method.
He later told a somewhat different story – that he could not afford to take the cat to a vet for treatment of an eye injury.

(News Journal - Jan 21, 2014)

Earlier:

• League City man sought in fatal cat shooting