Warning: Some people may find elements of this story disturbing.
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Hendersonville family is mourning the death of their beloved cat after a neighbor allegedly shot it with an arrow over the weekend.
Foster Phillips told News 2 his family adopted Zeke when he was a 6-week-old stray kitten.
For the last seven years, Zeke has been a faithful family pet as he lived with Phillips, his wife, their 3-year-old son, their 8-month-old daughter, and their dogs. In addition, Phillips said Zeke was always well-behaved and non-aggressive.
However, on Sunday, Jan. 12, the Hendersonville Police Department (HPD) said the cat was shot with an arrow in the 100 block on Allen Court.
Phillips showed News 2’s Andy Cordan spots of blood in the driveway where he found Zeke Sunday afternoon.
He said he had just come home with his children and saw Zeke in the house. Phillips put his kids down for a nap and then heard a loud meowing outside the back door that had a cat door. When he opened the door, he saw his pet was stunned.
“I just saw him laying there, meowing, and it looked very uncomfortable. He had an arrow sticking through him, and he was just kind of twisted, laying on the ground. It was hard for him to get up,” the Hendersonville man recalled.
According to Phillips, the cat had an arrow sticking through his chest and was bleeding badly.
Phillips said his wife was not home at the time, but she is taking the news very hard: “My wife, the first time she came out the back door, she started crying.”
Phillips told News 2 he rushed Zeke to the animal hospital, where the vets initially thought they could operate and save the cat. In the end, though, they recommended he be put down.
“We lost one of our fur babies, and it’s not fun,” Zeke’s owner said.
A few days later, law enforcement said they arrested Richard Coomes, a 61-year-old who lives on the other side of a fence that butts up against the Phillips’ property.
Phillips said Zeke enjoyed walking on that fence.
Cordan: “Why did this happen?”
Phillips: “I couldn’t tell you. I guess some people just don’t want cats on their fence or in their yard.”
Cordan: “Had he ever come to you and said, ‘Hey, get that cat out of here?'”
Phillips: “Never, no.”
According to HPD Cmdr. Jimmy Garrett, when police searched Coomes’ home on Wednesday, Jan. 15, they found a crossbow and arrows that matched the one that hit Zeke.
“We took this very serious, we investigated it, we assigned it to a detective who put 100% effort into it and was able to get this man arrested,” Garrett said.
When asked if Coomes said anything after his arrest, Garrett replied, “You could see some remorse, the detective said, when he was talking to him and interviewing him, but he never admitted to it.”
Phillips told News 2 he has yet to talk to Coomes, but if he does have the chance, here’s what he would say: “I forgive you. That’s what the Lord would want me to do…You can’t just shoot whatever you feel like shooting, especially with a crossbow in a neighborhood. I’ve got kids. My kid plays out here. What if a crossbow came over the fence and hit my child? It’d be a whole different story. I’d probably be taking matters into my own hands at that point.”
According to Phillips, his family had Zeke cremated and they may sprinkle his ashes in a ceremony in the near future.
Authorities said Coomes — who had no prior criminal history — has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a class E felony. He reportedly posted his $7,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on Jan. 31.
If you have any information about this case, you’re asked to call the HPD at 615-822-1111 or the
Hendersonville Crime Stoppers at 615-594-4113.
