The Atlanta Falcons waived linebacker Prince Shembo after killing his ex-girlfriend's dog , a Yorkie, and was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to an animal.
In a news release, Gwinnett County police said Shembo's former girlfriend Denicia Williams called the police on April 19 saying the 23-year-old killed her dog, according to multiple reports.
Reports said Williams brought her dog named Dior to Shembo's apartment and left the two together.
When Williams returned, the dog was unresponsive and she brought it to an animal hospital but it did not last long.
Shembo called Williams the next day admitting that he kicked the dog and she later broke up with him.
The Falcons waived Shembo after learning about the charges that the linebacker was facing.
"We are aware of the charges that have been filed against Prince Shembo. We are extremely disappointed that one of our players is involved in something like this. Accordingly, we have decided to waive Prince Shembo," the team announced according to atlantafalcons.com.
The police issued a warrant for Shembo's arrest after inconsistencies in his statements while talking to the police through phone and the necropsy results, the authorities said in the release according to The Guardian.
According to The Guardian's report, the dog had a fractured rib, abdominal hemorrhage, head trauma, eye injuries and extensive bruising in the muscles of his front leg and shoulders among other injuries.
Shembo turned himself in Friday and according to his lawyer, Jerry Froelich, he was just defending himself after getting bitten by the dog as he was putting it inside the cage, the Daily Mail reported.
"He got bit and he made a mistake and kicked the dog. It's a small dog and unfortunately that's what happened. He didn't mean to kill the dog. You see the size of it. When you're a small dog, it doesn't take much with the size [Shembo] is," Froelich said according to the Daily Mail.
"He's disappointed. It's devastating to him. When I first met him he was in tears," he added.
Once Shembo is found guilty for animal cruelty, he may face 1-5 years of jail time or a fine of up to $15,000.
