Docs: Beech Grove man shot, killed cat ‘in self-defense’

BEECH GROVE, Ind. — Police have arrested a Beech Grove man accused of shooting and killing his neighbor’s cat in “self-defense.”

According to court documents filed in Marion Superior Court on Wednesday, Jonathan Mosier has been preliminarily charged with killing a domestic animal, which is a Level 6 felony.

The alleged incident occurred on July 23 when officers with the Beech Grove Police Department were called to N. 9th Avenue in response to a report that a resident’s cat had been shot in the area.

When officers arrived, they encountered a white and black cat lying on the ground. It had suffered a bullet wound to its chest and was pronounced dead on the scene. Police then spoke with a woman who identified herself as the original caller. She confirmed the cat, who she said was named Oreo, belonged to her.

The woman accused Mosier, who resided in a residence in the 800 block of Cleveland Street, of allegedly shooting and killing her cat. Police then met and spoke with Mosier, who told them that he was walking his dog with his son when Oreo allegedly “attacked” them. Mosier admitted that he used a “pellet gun” to shoot the cat in “self-defense.”

Court documents noted that scratches were observed on Mosier’s left arm, but that no other physical injuries were visible.

Police then returned to the cat’s owner to continue gathering information about the incident. She told them that she was inside her home when she overheard a “loud bang” that she believed to be caused by a gun being fired or a firework going off.

When she came outside, she reportedly found Oreo lying on the ground after being shot. Police also spoke with two neighbors who appeared to corroborate the woman’s account and reported hearing the same sound.

Police then returned to Mosier, who reportedly admitted that he shot Oreo with a semiautomatic pistol. Authorities then executed a search warrant to gain entry to Mosier’s residence, where they collected the weapon for evidence.

Court documents noted that Mosier was barred from carrying a handgun in Indiana due to a prior felony conviction for theft in 2010. Police then placed Mosier in handcuffs and transported him to the Marion County Criminal Justice Center.

Online court records indicate that Mosier posted a cash bond worth $2,000 on Friday. He is scheduled to appear in Marion Superior Court 25 on July 28 for an initial hearing.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office has yet to make official charges in regards to this incident. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.