Baltimore Man Acquitted of Shooting Dog in Self-Defense in December 2022

By Andrew Michaels - August 4, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

A Baltimore City jury acquitted 45-year-old Email Wells of all charges on Aug. 2 after he was accused of fatally shooting a dog in what defense counsel described as self-defense.

Wells two-day trial concluded before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays on Wednesday when the jury returned a verdict of not guilty for charges of aggravated animal cruelty, animal cruelty, reckless endangerment and firing a gun in Baltimore City.

Earlier in the day, defense attorney Brandon Taylor, once again, asked the jury, “What would you do if it was you,” referring to the moments that led up to the defendant shooting a 15-year-old boy’s Cane Corso, Chop, once in the back.

On Dec. 18, 2022, Wells was walking his Shih Tzu, Chaz, when he saw the victim struggling to pull Chop away from him and Chaz. After Chop allegedly attacked Chaz, the licensed gun owner of more than 20 years did what he thought was “necessary, justifiable and reasonable,” and shot Chop, Taylor said.

“We know these two dogs made contact with each other,” Taylor said, referring to testimony from both the defendant and Chop’s owner, adding that this was not a case of dog fighting or neglect.

Prior to Taylor’s counterargument, the prosecutor told jurors that Wells could have handled the situation differently, especially considering the so-called weapons training the defendant testified to at trial.

“Mr. Wells could have walked away,” the prosecutor said. “At no time until this day did Mr. Wells express to anybody that he was in fear of his own safety.”

The prosecutor also questioned defense counsel’s argument that Wells somehow acted consciously using his training, but was also under duress at the time of the incident.

“He can’t have it both ways,” she told the jury. “His behavior was reckless. His behavior was unjustified. His behavior was unnecessary. And the use of deadly force that was used was unreasonable.”