A Florida man has been charged with second-degree homicide after authorities say he fatally shot his neighbor whose cat walked on his property.
Clifton Anthony Bliss, Jr., 58, was taken into custody on Wednesday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Department said.
“Mr. Bliss was so upset that his neighbor’s cat had wandered over into his yard that he went, retrieved a rifle, leaves his home, goes across the street to the victim’s home” before opening fire on the victim, sheriff’s Sgt. Paul Bloom told NBC affiliate WFLA.
Authorities identified the victim as James Arland Taylor Jr. A witness said Bliss tried to find the cat as Taylor followed and asked Bliss to leave. At that point, Bliss shot Taylor twice or “double tapped” the .22 rifle he allegedly used, the witness said in the document.
Bloom added that Taylor had pleaded, “Please don’t kill my cat,” before gunfire erupted.
A neighbor who was driving by saw Taylor on the ground and asked if he was alright.
“No, I’m dying,” he responded.
Neighbors described Bliss as a “troublemaker,” “hot head,” and someone who had threatened others about their with an armed gun before this incident.
Bliss’ wife said her husband called her after the shooting and said Taylor assaulted him before he shot him. However, authorities don’t believe him.
He is currently being held without bond.
