Falcons waive player Prince Shembo accused of kicking dog to death

An Atlanta Falcons football player is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s dog.

Gwinnett County police charged Prince Shembo with felony aggravated cruelty to animals.

He tued himself in at the Gwinnett County Jail late Friday night.

Shembo’s ex-girlfriend, Denicia Williams, told police the incident happened when she and her dog, Dior, went to Shembo’s Buford home on April 19.

Williams says she left Shembo and the 5-pound Yorkie alone and later found the dog unresponsive. Dior died at the Duluth Animal Hospital.

Williams says Shembo told her he had kicked the dog.

Shembo’s attoey Jerry Froelich told repoters that it was all an accident.

”He was putting the dog in the cage and the dog bit him. Bit his hand and he reflexed and kicked the dog, Froelich said. ”He didn't mean to kill the dog. He didn't go out to do that. He kicked it. You see the size of him, it's a small dog and that's what happened.
 
Froelich said his client is heartbroken over the incident.
 
”When I first met him he was in tears. The Falcons cut him... he's ya know. He didn't mean to kill the dog."
 
Shembo’s mother was by his side as he walked into the Gwinnett County Jail Friday night. ”I love my son. He's a good person. That's all I can tell you, she told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Channel 2’s Tony Thomas spoke with Williams’ stepmother about the incident. Sherron Williams told him the two began dating in January. By April, Williams says, the 254-pound NFL player became jealous of the dog.

”She is attached to the dog. He had wanted her attention more than the dog, and I think that’s what it was, Sherron Williams said.

But still, Williams says Shembo didn’t seem capable of doing this, and she was shocked by the allegation.

"Dior was sweet. Dior was loving, very playful. He was a sweetheart, said Williams. ”I still can’t get over it; I find myself crying.

Police say they waited to file charges until necropsy results came back on Thursday.

”It was determined that the dog died of blunt force trauma and had significant injuries, said Cpl. Michele Pihera, with the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Police say they have already interviewed Shembo, but his story and the test results don't add up.

The Williams family has hired a civil attoey and plans to file a lawsuit.

Shembo posted a $15,000 bond Friday night.

The Falcons picked Shembo in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. Friday afteoon, they let him go, releasing the following statement.

”We are aware of the charges that have been filed against Prince Shembo. We are extremely disappointed that one of our players is involved in something like this. Accordingly, we have decided to waive Prince Shembo.