N.C. landlord accused of breaking into tenants’ home and killing their cat

MORGANTON, N.C. (TCN) -- Officials recently arrested a man on suspicion of breaking into his tenants’ home, killing their cat, and referencing the incident in a live video on social media.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office initially received a report of breaking and entering and animal cruelty on July 15. The following day, an investigator spoke with a victim and learned they had obtained surveillance footage of the alleged crimes.

After reviewing the footage, the sheriff’s office identified Dustin McCormack as the suspect in the video. According to WSOC-TV, McCormack, the victims’ landlord, allegedly kicked and fatally shot his tenants’ cat.

The cat’s owners, Harmony Chizem and her boyfriend, Preston Finley, were reportedly on vacation when it happened.

The sheriff’s office said McCormack made a live Facebook video in which he "appeared to be referring to the incident." McCormack also allegedly posted about his tenants on social media and published photos of them and their home.

McCormack reportedly owns a construction company and rents out several homes in the area. According to WSOC, he doesn’t allow renters to have cats.

McCormack reportedly said he went to the home to gather some of his belongings when he encountered the cat. WSOC reports that he claimed he used the gun to scare the cat and had no intention of killing the animal.

In a statement to the news source, McCormack said, "I had to get the cat out of the house, and when I got it off the porch, it wouldn’t run, so I scared it so it would go away."

Officials obtained warrants for McCormack’s arrest on multiple charges, including breaking or entering, cruelty to animals, and injury to personal property. McCormack eventually turned himself in, and his bond was set at $20,000.

McCormack is set to appear in court on Aug. 9. He has additional charges pending in court, including two counts of a protective order violation, cyberstalking, expired registration card, assault on a female, reckless driving to endanger, speeding, and resisting public officer.