New prosecutor in German Shepard case speaks
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: September 16, 2011
More details arise in the continuing case of the German Shepard, Shadow, who was shot and killed by a retired State Trooper, Anthony Randazzo.
Eyewitness News Reporter Chelsea Rarrick spoke with the new prosecutor in the case, and the veterinarian who treated Shadow the night of the shooting.
"If it was just the first shot through the shoulder, Shadow likely would have lived and been fine. He could have orthopedic surgery to repair that. The second shot paralyzed him and left him unable to walk or function," said Veterinarian at Beaver Meadow Veterinary Clinic, Diana Puchalski.
Although Diana Puchalski was not at the incident, she can confirm the dog was shot three times when Bernard Sperfeld brought Shadow in.
Sperfeld says the first shot to the dog went to the shoulder and after Shadow was already down, Sperfeld says Randazzo fired two more shots.
"Shadow was lying on his side. He fired two shots more and two shots went though Shadow's spine.
"If the dog was down, and the threat was no more, then there is no reason to defend yourself," said Christopher Pelli, the new prosecutor on the case.
However, Randazzo's attorney, Les Lewis says there is no way to prove what shot was fired first.
He says Randazzo fired three fast shots in rapid succession.
"Who knows, he was too far away. Mr. Sperfeld was 100 yards away so I don't know how he could recreate which shots hit him and at what succession," said Lewis.
But according to the police report, Sperfeld says Randazzo shot Shadow when he was thirty feet away.
The new prosecutor, Christopher Pelli says he is taking this matter very seriously and is going to fully investigate the case.
"I'm going to gather all the evidence, look at it very carefully and determine first whether or not charges should be filed, " said Pelli.
Pelli says he expects to be able to move forward with he case in a couple of weeks.
As far as how the case will be handled, Pelli says he is fairly certain the case will be presented to a grand jury to decide whose side of the story is more accurate.
Eyewitness News Reporter Chelsea Rarrick spoke with the new prosecutor in the case, and the veterinarian who treated Shadow the night of the shooting.
"If it was just the first shot through the shoulder, Shadow likely would have lived and been fine. He could have orthopedic surgery to repair that. The second shot paralyzed him and left him unable to walk or function," said Veterinarian at Beaver Meadow Veterinary Clinic, Diana Puchalski.
Although Diana Puchalski was not at the incident, she can confirm the dog was shot three times when Bernard Sperfeld brought Shadow in.
Sperfeld says the first shot to the dog went to the shoulder and after Shadow was already down, Sperfeld says Randazzo fired two more shots.
"Shadow was lying on his side. He fired two shots more and two shots went though Shadow's spine.
"If the dog was down, and the threat was no more, then there is no reason to defend yourself," said Christopher Pelli, the new prosecutor on the case.
However, Randazzo's attorney, Les Lewis says there is no way to prove what shot was fired first.
He says Randazzo fired three fast shots in rapid succession.
"Who knows, he was too far away. Mr. Sperfeld was 100 yards away so I don't know how he could recreate which shots hit him and at what succession," said Lewis.
But according to the police report, Sperfeld says Randazzo shot Shadow when he was thirty feet away.
The new prosecutor, Christopher Pelli says he is taking this matter very seriously and is going to fully investigate the case.
"I'm going to gather all the evidence, look at it very carefully and determine first whether or not charges should be filed, " said Pelli.
Pelli says he expects to be able to move forward with he case in a couple of weeks.
As far as how the case will be handled, Pelli says he is fairly certain the case will be presented to a grand jury to decide whose side of the story is more accurate.
