Jamier T. Lee-Bright, a 25-year-old resident of 21 Seaman Trail East in Palm Coast, was arrested on two felony counts Saturday, including cruelty to animals, following the execution-style shooting of his 1-year-old dog after the dog allegedly bit Lee-Bright’s fiancée. Lee-Bright had removed the dog from his fiancee’s presence, taken him to the backyard, set him down and shot him there. The dog survived.
Lee-Bright also faces a charge of tampering with evidence. He was booked at the county jail and released on bond.
Residents neighboring the property at 21 Seaman Trail East in Palm Coast’s Seminole Woods reported to authorities that they’d heard gunshots followed by the cries of a dog. Residents directed responding deputies to that address, where they found a “profusely sweating” Lee-Bright, according to his arrest report, along with three other adults, none of whom were sweating. Lee-Bright told deputies he’d heard the gunshots, too, but didn’t know anything about them. But he consented to the deputies searching the backyard.
Detectives were dispatched to the scene. One of them interviewed Lee-Bright’s fiancee, Candace Brice, 24, who allegedly deceived detectives at first, then said she thought Lee-Bright had shot one of their dogs, Rocky, a 1-year-old German shepherd mix. Rocky, Brice told detectives, had “allegedly attacked and bit her on the hand while she was attempting to keep a toy away from him while in the living room of the residence,” the report relates. Brice screamed repeatedly that the dog was biting her. Lee-Bright took Rocky to the backyard while Brice and her young daughter moved to the front yard, where she said she heard a loud noise, but did not know what it was.
“It should be noted that Candace did not sustain any injuries from ‘Rocky,'” the report states.
Detectives always interview individuals separately. Lee-Bright told a different story: that nothing had happened at the property, and that neighbors were probably hearing things from Dry Lake. When detectives told him they knew he was fabricating a story, he said: “Yea. I shot him,” referring to Rocky. He said the moment he heard Brice screaming, he grabbed his .40 caliber Glock, picked up the dog, “walked through the lanai, set the dog down in the backyard and shot it once in the head,” according to the arrest report. “[H]e then dragged the dog back inside and locked it up in its kennel.” The dog was still alive.
“We found that there was a large amount of blood in and around the kennel and that “Rocky” was lying there trembling and crying while covered in blood,” a detective reported. “We further confirmed that ‘Rocky’ had sustained a gunshot wound to the head and an additional wound to the left front shoulder area. Rocky was subsequently rushed to the Flagler Animal Hospital.” The dog drifted in and out of consciousness. Veterinarians indicated the bullet had narrowly missed the carotid artery and all vital organs. The wound was non-life threatening, but the dog sustained a fracture of the left humerus.
Two hours had elapsed between the time the dog was shot and the time deputies found him. “At no time did [Lee-Bright] display any remorse for his actions,” the report states.
Others at the house told detectives that they never saw Rocky display aggressive tendencies and that there were no known behavioral problems. “It was also made known to detectives that [Lee-Bright] has turned over multiple dogs in the past and that he knows what the appropriate course of action is if he needed to remove a dog from the home,” the report states.
Dixie Commons Animal Hospital, which had examined the dog in December, reported no aggression. A Palm Coast Animal Control officer reported no detectable aggression from Rocky, either. (“I don’t want that fucking dog back in my house!” Lee-Bright was reported to have told Kasey Hagan, the animal control officer.)
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Timothy says
I hope the judge puts he is never to own animals and that he gets to sit and jail for a long time. You sometimes have to ask what was the person doing at the time they got bit since in some cases that is how a dog defends themselves. It is not always the dogs fault but seem to pay the price for the humans errors.
Isabella Milanes says
I want that man in prison for animal abuse
Denali says
While I am not a psychologist I would offer that this person has some serious mental stability issues. I defy anyone who has owned a puppy/1 year old dog to say that the pup has not at least once allowed his teeth to be in the wrong spot. It is a fact of life, there is no aggression, no malice; just a pup who is still learning his boundaries. Doesn’t help that the female in question was keeping a toy away from the pup – now he thinks it’s a game.
This ‘person’ should be enjoined to never own a dog again or to be in the presence of any domestic animal. While we’re at it, take away his Glock, he obviously does no know how to use it if he cannot slaughter a puppy at point black range. Just my thoughts, he’ll probably get a slap on the wrist and receive the next citizen-of-the-year award.
Keep Flagler Beautiful says
Obviously Lee-Bright felt like a big-shot trying to execute a puppy with a gun to the head. He knew what he did was wrong, and he tried to cover up his tracks. I hope the coward gets the maximum sentence AND that the judge will forbid him from ever owning an animal again. I hope his neighbors will keep an eye on him. I wouldn’t want him for a neighbor, that’s for sure.
Concerned Citizen says
Another hot head that doesn’t need a gun or dogs given his record.
I’ve had big dogs all of my life. From Sheppards to Belgians. Regardless of breed how that dog behaves is almost totally reliant on how they are raised. And guess what puppies are hyper. And will nip while playing. It’s the owners responsibility to correct the behavior appropriatley. And show the dog limits.
Dragging a dog out in the yard and shooting it seems a bit much in this case. The propper course of action would have been to calm the dog down and then crate him. But I guess it was easier to take your frustrations out and then try to cover it up.
One thing that concerns me in this article is the fact that this man was arrested on felony charges involving a fire arm. And wasn’t asked to surrender his weapon. I hope that will be corrected at some point.
Joanne C Nelson says
I hope this poor dog is not returned to that abusive family, given the charges against Mr. Lee-Bright. Sounds like Rocky has had nothing but abuse in his short life. And I pray that this terrible man is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Thanks to the sheriff’s deputies and animal control personnel who intervened in this awful situation.
Jerome says
Another palm coast great resident!
Steve says
Another one who’s not responsible enough to own a weapon. Yeah Humane Society right down the Street. Genius It would be EX Fiance LOL
Ceaser says
What a piece of CRAP!
Judith Back-Zack says
He should be barred from ever owning an animal again!!! Also, the sheriff should consider revoking his gun license not only for shooting the dog but for firing it in a residential neighborhood!! With this guy’s short fuse, him owning a gun is scary. Hope the dog finds a loving home soon.
Mondexmomma says
Literally heart broken for that poor dog. If the poor dog lives and is given a second chance in life may it find a loving family. How sad has this world become. Just crying for that poor dog. The pain it musy be in.
ISeeTrashyPeople says
He should NEVER own a pet. He should also NEVER have a child. He is a violent man with no regard for life. A piece of filth. They need to put animal lives on par with human ones for punishment. These walking pieces of garbage disguised as humans will continue to show utter disdain and disregard unless punished appropriately.
Concerned Citizen says
I spent my first 6 years of active duty in the Airforce as a Military Working Dog Handler. So I have a good deal of experience with Shepards and Belgians. With the right owner both are wonderful dogs to have. And loyal to the end.
I will be the first to tell you that you spend a lot of time teaching them what is OK and not OK to bite/chew on. LOL. And sometimes it gets a little frustrating. But you reign it in and remind yourself that that dog is dependant on you to teach it right. And your training will help it grow.
It saddens me anytime animals are mistreated. They completly rely on us for their well being. At the same time he tried to take that dogs life for being nothing more than a puppy it would at some point try to give it’s own protecting that family.
I hope the Judge forbids any future ownership of animals. I am also curious as to what the other felony charge was. I am very surprised and dissapointed that he was not charged for discharging his weapon in city limits. As well as being required to surrender it.
Greg says
Some just don’t know how to behave in civilized society.
MikeM says
He could have just brought it to the shelter. Not only that , obviously he can’t shoot straight either. Now the dog is suffering. Maybe he should be neutered like a dog so he can’t reproduce. He isn’t much smarter than the dog.
M Talley says
Cruelty to animals is a most cowardly act. Flagler County should be known as a protectorate of animals. Convict him of a felony, and he loses his firearm rights. Put him in jail, and he also loses his freedom, sending the message we want heard! Prohibit him from possessing or living with ANY animal. We are watching this case!
Enough says
There are no words to describe the action of this useless piece of garbage!! Another “tough” guy as long as he has a weapon in his hand; and to harm a helpless animal. Just pathetic!
Enough says
How sad for an animal to be owned by a lunatic! I wonder how he would fare with someone if he didn’t have a weapon? Just a coward. It sickens me.
Animal lover says
Agreed. Should not be allowed to have firearms any more. This time it was a defenseless animal, what about if a live person makes him mad?
Tina says
Girlfriend….there are soo many red flags here….My advised…..EX- fiance….You need to do so serious re-evaluating of your situation. Next time it could be you….and dogs have very good instincts….You are also part of the problem…..Sad Sad Situation….😪
Grim says
My poor baby this guy needs to sit in jail or in a kennel after someone does to him what he did to that poor dog 🐕 🤬
Geezer says
Jamier T. Lee-Bright needs to be neutered. (have his inseam taken up)
Afterward, I’d love to hear him sing a Helen Reddy song in mezzo-soprano.
If I lived nearby, I’d love to adopt Rocky. Poor guy…
Jimbo99 says
I could see in a brutal attack where the dog didn’t relent and stand down, as a last resort thing. But since the fiance had no injuries, based upon no visible injuries to the fiance’s hand where the bite was supposed to be as a report, this can’t be justified. If the attack was real, turn the dog over to animal control.
Sue says
And any other animals in the home need to be surrendered. This abuser needs to be kept from owning a pet
Lana R. says
I am mortified that this innocent puppy was subjected to the horrific abuse described here. There needs to be serious legal consequences for the sociopathic perpetrator who committed an unspeakable act. It will only make a difference if this sub-human is made to forfeit his freedom for this heinous act.
Justice for Rocky says
What a cold heartless POS. Animals are like angels, and what he did is equivalent to shooting an angel. This coward needs to spend literally the rest of his life in prison and or be shot in the head and left to suffer for hours and hours and fed to whatever animal would eat this pos. Buzzards probably wouldn’t even eat him. The fact the fiance had no marks on her hand is evidence that they are both full of sht. There is no justifying reasoning of any sort to do something of that degree to an animal, especially a puppy. Probably his first charge and will only get probation. What a joke. Officers need to keep an eye on him like that other drug dealer home invader shooter and catch him with more stuff to throw him behind bars for life.
C’mon man!! says
I take it the dog will need a new, safe and caring home. I’ll call the hospital and inquire.
Go2guy says
I am not a violent person by nature but this dude needs some old testament justice….
Enough says
I can only feel sympathy for the poor dog who sadly was in the hands of a lunatic. Such a cowardly act to shoot a defenseless animal. I hope he pays for what actions he took.
Steve says
He not too Bright
James says
The lowest of lowest scum bag, take him off the streets and lock him up for good. He doesn’t deserve to walk free.
Mona says
I have same questions. Also, if he won’t go to jail, but will not be allowed to own any animals, who is going to check if he won’t have them. Who?