Man shoots goat to threaten family

KILGORE – In Rusk County, an East Texas man was detained on suspicion of shooting a restrained goat to scare a family member. Roberto Castro, 34, of Kilgore, is accused of possessing marijuana, driving while intoxicated, driving with an invalid license, terroristic threat (family violence), and cruelty to a livestock animal. He has $56,000 in bonds. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) reports that deputies responded to reports of domestic abuse and animal abuse on Sunday on County Road 117 North in the Kilgore area.

Deputies discovered an injured Lamancha breed domestic goat that looked to have been shot in the neck area while on scene. According to the sheriff’s office, after conducting an investigation, deputies discovered a video showing Castro firing several rounds from a handgun at the tethered domestic goat.

The RCSO claims that the deputies concluded that Castro shot the goat on purpose in order to intimidate the family he was upset with. Castro also threatened to burn a house cat and threatened to harm or kill family members, according to text messages. After being informed about the goat, Town and Country Animal Hospital arrived on the scene and took care of the animal. Castro was initially charged with DWI and driving while license invalid during a traffic stop after it was discovered that he was using a vehicle. The warrants for the remaining charges were obtained by investigators on Monday.