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Neighbors' Dispute Over Pit Bulls Turns Deadly

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Oct 22, 2009 8:37 pm US/Mountain

Neighbors' Dispute Over Pit Bulls Turns Deadly

Reporting
Mike Hooker
FORT LUPTON, Colo. (CBS4) ― Deputies in Weld County believe a deadly shooting near Fort Lupton was the climax of a dispute between neighbors over pit bulls.

Hugo Botello Gonzalez and his wife Olga Torrez were shot in their yard on Wednesday night. Gonzalez, 43, died and Torrez, 45, was injured. The two own pit bulls that apparently had been causing disturbances among the rural neighbors.

Police said the dogs recently harrassed a horse belonging to neighbor Jose Rodriguez. On Sunday officers said the dogs killed some of Rodriguez' chickens, leading to an argument between the neighbors. Authorities wound up taking the pit bulls away from Gonzalez and Torrez after the incident.

"Those pit bulls were the ones that were killing the chickens and stuff like that and we heard that people were complaining about it," neighbor Renee Valencia told CBS4. Valencia said the dogs never caused any problems with her animals.

Tensions apparently heated up again over the dogs on Wednesday and police suspect this time Rodriguez, 51, and his son got into a physical fight with Gonzalez and Torrez.

"That then led to a handgun being pulled and shots being fired," said Weld County Undersheriff Margie Martinez.

Gonzalez's son apparently called 911 and then started driving his father and Torrez to the hospital. Ambulance crews met them a few miles from their home.

Officers responded to the scene and say they eventually arrested Rodriguez's 16-year-old son for murder and attempted murder. On Thursday police were putting together arrest warrant for Rodriguez and said they were searching for him.

Torrez is recovering at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley.

(© MMX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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