Reward offered in horse shooting

The Twisses are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.

On September 30, the Twisses discovered their horse, Billy, had been shot in the leg with a small caliber weapon.

The incident was the third in the past six months.

The first shooting occurred in March of this year when one of the Twisses’ horses was shot in the neck. The second incident took place in August when another horse was shot in the shoulder.

Owner Jacquelin Twiss said she and her husband thought the first shooting was accidental, but when the second horse was shot, they became suspicious. After Billy was shot, the Twisses filed a report with the Sheriff’s Office.

Jacquelin Twiss said she does not know who is responsible for the shootings, but surveillance footage shows someone standing a few feet into the brush line adjoining the rear of her property.

ONGOING HARASSMENT

Jacquelin and Phillip Twiss have been embroiled in a conflict with both Barrow County and their neighbors since filing a request in 2008 to rezone their 25 acre property on Hancock Bridge Road from residential to agricultural.

The Twisses purchased the property in 2004 with the intent of moving their business, Across the Way Stables, to the property. At the time, the planning department said the horse boarding business would be allowed under R-1 zoning.

It was not until after the Twisses cleared several acres of property, constructed a ten stall horse barn and built a riding arena that they were notified of several zoning and permitting violations. Jacquelin Twiss said she was told by the planning department the best way to resolve the issue was to request the property be rezoned to agricultural.

In Aug. 2008, the Barrow County Planning Commission voted 3-0 to approve Twiss’ rezoning request, but the Board of Commissioners later voted against the rezoning. The denial led to an ongoing court battle.

While the court battle has been difficult, other incidents have caused even more stress. Since March of 2008, the Twisses have been the victims of several disturbing incidents including what Jacquelin Twiss describes as ongoing harassment by neighbors opposed to her rezoning request.

In September of 2008, Twiss called the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office after being photographed and followed by her neighbors while working outside.

On three separate occasions, dead animals were placed on her driveway directly outside her gate. Each time, the animal appeared to have been shot.

In December of 2009, Twiss called the Sheriff’s Office after finding a noose hanging inside her barn. An intruder also moved hay bales from one end of her storage building to another.

No arrests have been made in any of the incidents. The most recent case relating to the shooting is listed as inactive by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office and has not been assigned to an investigator.

Twiss is hopeful that by offering a reward, someone will come forward with information leading to the arrest of the person who shot her three horses.

“It might give someone the incentive to tell what they know,” she said.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the person or persons responsible for shooting the horses should call 770-402-2659.