A burglar shot and killed a dog during a home invasion in Virginia, Minnesota. Police arrested and charged the suspect, plus an accomplice, with multiple felonies.
Dog shot and killed by burglar
According to Northern News Now, 24-year-old Dakota Jakob Sandberg and 25-year-old Heather Ann Nappa broken into a home on 15th Street North in the early morning hours of Oct. 20. The homeowner was sleeping with a dog on her bed. The bedroom door was open. When the dog heard the intruders enter, the dog jumped off the bed and barked.
Sandberg and Nappa, wearing ski masks and black clothing, approached the bedroom. Sandberg later claimed that the dog jumped on him and tried to bite him. So, he allegedly shot the pup with a 9 mm handgun. Then, Sandberg shone a flashlight in the homeowner’s face. Sandberg and Nappa held the homeowner at gunpoint. They demanded money and “stuff.” The homeowner was somehow able to force the bedroom door closed. The pair left.
At around 4 a.m., the homeowner called the police to report that her dog had been shot. Before officers arrived, the dog died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Suspects arrested, one charged with animal cruelty
The homeowner told police she recognized Nappa’s voice. Police learned that the homeowner knew Nappa, and let her stay in the home previously, but had since rescinded that privilege.
During their investigation, police found 9mm rounds and a flashlight a few blocks from the home. By pinging Nappa’s phone, authorities found Nappa at her home in Ely. Officers located Sandberg at a different address in Virginia.
According to a criminal complaint, Nappa said the homeowner owed her money. The homeowner was going to give Nappa the money, but Nappa didn’t want to collect it alone because she feared it was a “setup.” Apparently, Nappa and Sandberg met at a Short Stop in Virginia. Nappa allegedly complained that the homeowner “robbed” her and Sandberg joked that they should recoup the money. In a text message, Nappa later detailed how they would get the money and agreed to let Sandberg keep the funds. Then, she picked him up and they drove to the homeowner’s residence. Nappa told police she didn’t know that Sandberg had a gun.
Sandberg faces charges for first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, and animal cruelty. Nappa faces charges for aiding and abetting to first-degree burglary and aiding and abetting to second-degree assault. They could go to jail for up to 20 years.
