Idaho man killed ex-girlfriend’s HORSE by shooting it multiple times after they broke up

An Idaho man is facing criminal charges after his heartbroken ex-girlfriend accused him of fatally shooting her beloved horse multiple times after they ended their relationship.

Shawn Brayden Jones, 24, had recently broken up with Mailee Cooper, 22, and her 12-year-old horse Bree was staying on his property. Cooper had raised the horse since she was just three.

Jones allegedly told police the horse had “not been fed or cared for” and was of no use, so “he had to put it down.”

He said no one had come to see the horse since January 31, a full six days before police arrived to question him.

On February 6, Bingham County sheriff’s deputies met with Jones after receiving a call for help.

Shawn Brayden Jones, 24, recently broke up with Mailee Cooper, 22, and her 12-year-old horse Bree was staying on his property

Officers claimed Jones smelled of alcohol and “the odor grew the more he spoke.”

He ‘stammered and could not describe what exactly was going on’ when they asked why the horse was unwell.

Jones claimed he shot the horse four times with a .22 lever-action rifle Eastern Idaho News.

When they went outside to photograph the horse, they found that, other than being shot, the horse “appeared to be in good health” and “there were no signs of malnutrition or neglect.”

Afterward, a family member spoke privately with the deputy and admitted that Jones was “out of control” and “didn’t need to shoot the horse,” recommending that he be charged.

The deputy told the man there was “no logical reason for him to have shot the animal as a first step” and wondered why he never called animal control if the horse was in bad condition.

Contacted a few hours later, Cooper said she had been to the scene to see the horse earlier the day it was shot and that a friend had even fed it on February 2 and was “confident the horse had not been abused at all used to be.’

She added that Jones had been drinking and “enraged” over their breakup, prompting her to find a truck and trailer to pick up the horse.

Jones allegedly told police the horse had “not been fed or cared for” and that it was of no use so “he had to put it down”

A few hours later, Cooper was contacted and said she had been on site earlier that day to view the horse

She added that Jones had been drinking and “enraged” over their breakup, prompting her to find a truck and trailer to pick up the horse.

Cooper, while driving to get the trailer, got a call from Jones’ relative to say he had shot Bree.

She said the horse was worth $10,000 and was registered with the American Quarter Horse Association.

Jones reportedly admitted to shooting the horse after Cooper came to visit and spontaneously offered to pay half of what the horse was worth.

Deputies eventually gave Jones a breath test, where he registered more than double the legal limit.

Cooper wrote a tear-jerking memory for Bree her Facebook page.

“The loss of my horse is a deep sadness that weighs heavily on my heart,” she wrote.

‘She was not only my best friend, she was my faithful companion and protector. The pain of her passing is heightened by the knowledge that she saved my life, bravely stepped into danger, and took a bullet for me. Her selfless act of heroism is a testament to the deep bond we shared, a bond built through countless hours of trust and camaraderie.”

Cooper told reporters that Bree “pretty much took a bullet for me” and that she wants justice.

Cooper wrote a tearful memory for Bree on her Facebook page

‘She was not only my best friend, she was my faithful companion and protector. The pain of her death is compounded by the knowledge that she saved my life, bravely stepped into harm’s way and took a bullet for me,” Cooper said.

Cooper hopes the justice system will give her retribution for the death of her beloved horse

a GoFundMe was founded by a friend of Cooper’s to help her raise money to purchase a new horse.

Jones remains in custody on $30,000 bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 13.

If convicted, Jones could face up to five years in prison.