Sources:  various

In January, two horses in Maryland were fatally shot within the span of a few days.

The first case involved a horse killed on Assateague Island where there is an authorized hunt to help control the deer population within the National Park.  

A hunter discovered a 28 year-old bay mare dead and reported it to Park rangers on the weekend of the hunt, January 15th & 16th.  

Park authorities expressed the hope that it was an accidental shooting.   Even if it was, those responsible face a fine for not reporting it.  

A reward of $1000 has been offered for information.  Contact Chief Ranger Ted Morlock at (410) 629-6055.

The second occurrence took place on January 21, in Charlotte Hall.   A horse-owner went out to feed her animals in the morning and found one of them severely injured, in a pool of blood.  The horse had been shot and had to be euthanized.

According to a local Fox News report, owner Kimberly Fullerton had bought the horse as a foal, raised, and then shown the multiple champion Morgan gelding.  She was devastated by his death.

Twice before, in 2002 and 2005, animals on Fullerton's property had suffered, but survived, gunshot wounds.  She had not reported the incidents to authorities at the time because she did not think they would investigate.

A Sheriff's department spokes-person said there had been other cases in which horses had been shot within the last couple of years:  one with a paint-ball and another with an arrow.  Investigators are not assuming that the shootings are related, but are looking for information about all of them.  

According to an AP report, the Charles Country Sheriff's office said a reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest in this most recent case.