Dispute over a cat leads to punches, gunfire and 3 arrests, Florida police say

A fight over a cat led to three people being arrested when ownership of the pet inspired a melee of punches, hair pulling and gunshots, according to police in Florida.

The three suspects claimed ownership of the cat and showed up at a woman’s apartment believing she had it, Lakeland police reported in affidavits.

It happened around 11 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8, in Lakeland, and multiple 911 callers reported hearing shots fired in the 800 block of Gilmore Avenue, police said. Lakeland is about a 35-mile drive northeast from Tampa.

The victim told police two women and a man showed up at her home and began shouting through her door.

Two of the suspects then grabbed the victim “by her hair and pulled her outside ... and began fighting her,” an affidavit reports.

One of the suspects is accused of threatening to kill the victim, while another used a screwdriver to drive away someone who tried to help the victim, police said.

“In response (the victim) retrieved a shotgun and began to fire warning shots,” the affidavit says.

The brawl continued until the victim was able to get back into her home and call 911, officials say.

When questioned, the three suspects said they came to the home “to retrieve their cat,” police said.

Details about the cat, including whether it was in the victim’s home, were not released.

The three suspects, who live in the area, were arrested and charged with battery, and the woman accused of wielding the screwdriver faces an additional charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, officials said.

This story was originally published September 10, 2024 at 1:07 PM with the headline "Dispute over a cat leads to punches, gunfire and 3 arrests, Florida police say."