Police arrest New Mexico body shop owner accused of shooting stray cat in the face

The man accused of shooting a stray cat in the face has been arrested.

According to court documents obtained by KOAT , Sean Stanford is facing charges of extreme cruelty to animals and negligent use of a deadly weapon.

Stanford owns Solid Tech Performance, an auto body shop, in Albuquerque.

The black-and-white cat was taken to the Albuquerque animal shelter last week after Stanford shot the cat twice in the face, court records show.

After police were initially unable to find him, a warrant was issued for Stanford’s arrest.

Court records indicate that for the past few months the stray cat had been hanging out at the body shop and several employees became attached and started to feed it.

But, Stanford didn’t care for the cat and several weeks ago threatened to kill it, employees told police.

Last week, the body shop owner tried to make good on his promise, according to court records.

Employees told police Stanford came to the shop with a rifle and shot the cat twice in the face.

One employee said Stanford admitted to him that he shot the cat, according to court records.

An employee found the feline at a nearby business and took it to a veterinarian.