Police investigating Roy horse shooting; heartbroken owners offer reward leading to killer’s arrest

The owner's 4-year-old great-granddaughter Lydia is pictured with Cinnamon. Photo Courtesy: Gene Larsen

ROY, Utah, Feb. 7, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A Roy family is searching for answers after its beloved horse, Cinnamon, was found dead, with two gunshot wounds to the forehead, over the weekend.

Gail Larsen, 78, bought Cinnamon 13 years ago. The quarter horse was a favorite of his seven grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren, Gail’s son Gene told Gephardt Daily. The family is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Cinnamon’s death.

Gene Larsen said his father keeps three horses on a 5-acre spread he has owned for 50 years, which is about five miles from his home. The land, at 4620 S. 4300 West, is surrounded on three sides by homes, and is just north of Rocky Mountain Junior High.

“He goes down there every day, feeds and waters the horses, that’s what keeps him going,” Gene Larsen said. Gail’s wife died eight years ago, the younger Larson said.

Gene Larsen was out of town over the weekend when he received a disturbing phone call from his 4-year-old granddaughter, Lydia, who told him Cinnamon had died. He then spoke with his father, Gail Larsen, who said that he had gone to his pasture Saturday and found the deceased horse.

“He said he saw her, and said he could tell by the way she was laying, she was dead,” Gene Larsen said. Gail assumed Cinnamon had had a heart attack or a stroke.

“He said he just went home and cried,” Gene Larsen added. The two men went to the pasture together on Sunday, and found the gunshots in Cinnamon’s head. The other two horses on the property were not harmed.

The Roy Police Department posted on Facebook Monday afternoon:

“Sometime between Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4, Cinnamon the horse was shot and killed. The owner and his family are offering a $5,000 reward for any tips or information that leads to the conviction of the person responsible.”

As of Tuesday morning, the post had been shared 556 times and garnered numerous comments.

“This is terrible!,” one person wrote. “The Larsens are such good people and it hurts to think they have had to have this happen to them. I hope they find the person who would do such a thing to an innocent animal. Hugs to their family!”

Another person expressed similar sentiments:

“That horse was so sweet. My kids and I used to feed them apples and carrots when we lived near there. I’m so sorry to the owners.”

According to Gene Larsen, the family is not only devastated, but confused.

“Dad feels bad, and the grandkids and great-grandkids have cried and cried,” he told Gephardt Daily. “Everybody feels terrible. This just broke everyone’s hearts. We just don’t know why. You would have to be a crazy person to do this. We are scared for the other two horses, we are scared for the people and pets who live in the area. Anyone who would do this could just as easily shoot a person.”

Anyone who saw or heard anything in the area of 4620 S. 4300 West on Friday or Saturday, is asked to call Gene Larsen at 801-725-6198, or Detective Josh Taylor with Roy City Police Department at 801-774-1064.

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