ID: Man Found Justified in Shooting Pit Bull

A jury Friday found Patrick Byrnes not guilty of cruelty to animals for shooting and killing a pit bull in April.

Byrnes, 32, of Idaho Falls, was charged April 8 with misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals and discharging a firearm in city limits.

A 12-person jury unanimously found Byrnes not guilty on both counts.

Byrnes’ attorney, Allen Browning, said the jury deliberated for about 90 minutes following the conclusion of the two-day trial.

“My perspective is it was crystal clear Pat was acting in self-defense as he was being attacked by a pit bull,” Browning said.

Idaho Falls Police responded to a call of a shot being fired April 1. Byrnes told the officers the dog, named Jack, was being aggressive so he shot it with a single-action .44 Magnum.
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