Investigators say the shooting happened after an argument with Prater's common-law wife. Both were going through a separation at the time of the shootings.
The incident happened in June of 2016, but it wasn't until this week that the estranged wife told officers she had caught it all on video.
Investigators say the video shows Prater shooting and killing a German Shepherd puppy and a Blue Heeler puppy at close range using a semi-automatic 12 gauge shotgun.
"He turns the shotgun over to the corner to the pen where a German Shepherd puppy is at. The puppy is cowering in the corner and he shoots the German Shepherd puppy," said Captain Steve Arthur with the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office.
By all accounts the shootings happened on remote property in Elberta off County Road 32. Prater is being held at the Baldwin County jail in Bay Minette facing two counts of aggravated animal cruelty, both felonies.
HE WAS GIVEN $40,000 BOND FOR EACH PUPPY -- $80,000 TOTAL!
"Certainly he should be punished for what he did," said Arthur.
Prater faces up to 10 years in prison on each felony count.
"I don't think you could show it on TV. I think you would have to block it out. It's really graphic. A shotgun and a puppy two feet away you could imagine what it would do," said Arthur.
Investigators say Prater lied to them at first, denying he had done anything. However, Prater finally admitted he shot the puppies once officers told him they had the video as evidence. Prater then claimed his estranged wife "told him" to kill the puppies.
(Local15 - Jan 15, 2016)
