It was a horrible, senseless crime. That's what a Cooper-Young woman is saying after a gunman robbed her inside her home and killed her dog.
The victim of a deadly robbery says a man walking in her neighborhood didn't catch her attention last week when she drove past him on her way home. But after she got home, the man demanded her attention and much more.
The victim, who only wanted to be identified as "Mrs. V.," is still in that state of shock one week after a robber followed her into her home and terrorized her.
"I was just in a complete state of shock… he demanded my cash," she said. "It was just a horrible, horrible day."
Making the day even more horrible, Mrs. V. said, "That man didn't hesitate to shoot my dog."
Her dog was a nine-year old shepherd mix she rescued from the pound.
"We called him 'Wrigley No Toes,' he had been traumatized before so he didn't have toes in his right hind paw."
What Wrigley did have was a huge heart and plenty of courage.
"My dog saved my life."
Mrs. V. says Wrigley saw the robber before she did.
"My dog just started going crazy in my kitchen, I had never seen him like that. He was doing everything he could to keep [the robber] cornered. The man pointed the gun at me and he said, 'Shut your dog up or I'm going to kill him.'"
Wrigley didn't back down. He continued barking, trying to protect his owner. As chance would have it, Wrigley would end up rescuing the woman who had once rescued him.
"I would probably be dead right now," she said. "My dog is my angel."
The group In Defense of Animals is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can help solve this case.
The suspect is described as a black man between 20 and 30-years-old. He's 5'8", 160 pounds and was last seen wearing a white long sleeved shirt, long black shorts and a black hat.
Anyone with information on this robbery should call CrimeStoppers at (901) 528-CASH (2274). You can also submit your tip at 528cash.org, or text the word AWARD to 274637 (CRIMES). You will remain anonymous, and you could be eligible to receive a cash reward.