According to WRIC 8 News, two men have been sentenced to long prison terms for shooting a 19-year-old Hanover County horse named Jake on October 17, 2023.
Jake was shot in the face for no reason while he was grazing on his owner’s property at the 11200 block of Cauthorne Road. The Hanover County Sheriff’s Office said Jake was shot between the jaw and eye. He survived the shooting but required multiple surgeries to repair and reconstruct his sinus cavity and dental structure. He was treated by a veterinarian at the Blue Ridge Equine Clinic in Charlottesville. Officials said Jake continues to recover.
The shooters
Jacob Brady, 21, and Robert Kelley Jr., 19, were involved in the shooting of Jake, a 19-year-old American paint horse. Both men were convicted of animal cruelty and vandalism because they were also linked to a series of mailbox shootings in the area.
Each was sentenced to over 30 years in prison, but they will only spend a portion of those sentences behind bars.
- Jacob Brady of Richmond was sentenced to 37 years with 12 years to serve.
- Robert Kelley of Chesterfield was sentenced to 36 years with three years to serve.