NORTH FORT MYERS, FL – Florida Man Shoots Cow After Wandering Onto Neighbor’s Property – A Florida man has been arrested after allegedly shooting a neighbor’s cow five times when it wandered onto his property, authorities said.
The incident occurred on May 13 in North Fort Myers, prompting a swift response from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit. Deputies were called to a ranch on Sharon Drive following reports of animal cruelty.
Cow Found with Gunshot Wounds, Euthanized
According to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were informed that the cow’s owner discovered his 2-year-old calf on a neighbor’s property suffering from five gunshot wounds to the gut, chest, and rear leg.
A veterinarian later determined the animal’s injuries were too severe and that the calf had to be euthanized.
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Suspect Previously Threatened Livestock
Investigators identified the suspect as 54-year-old Hung Trinh, who had allegedly expressed frustration in the past about livestock crossing his property line.
“He had been angry in the past about livestock jumping the fence and threatened to shoot the animals,” authorities reported.
Gun Located on Property; Charges Filed
Detectives obtained a search warrant and found a .22 caliber firearm—believed to have been used in the shooting—inside a shed on Trinh’s property.
“There will be accountability for taking your frustrations out on innocent animals,” said Sheriff Carmine Marceno. “We know how much these animals mean to our farming community, and we will not tolerate these actions.”
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
Trinh has been charged with animal cruelty and grand theft of a commercial farm animal, both felony offenses.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the incident.
