A South Carolina man is in jail after allegedly telling his three children they were “going to die” and shooting the family chihuahua to death.
Chavas Rhodes, 30, is charged with burglary, kidnapping, animal cruelty, and unlawful conduct toward a child, according to the North Charleston Police Department. The incident took place around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday in the 6500 block of Dorchester Road. According to an incident report obtained by Law&Crime, Rhodes entered the apartment where his children and mother live uninvited while she was in the parking lot.
One of the children claimed Rhodes walked through an unlocked door and yelled, “All of you are going to die tonight.” The affidavit stated that two of the children ran into a bedroom and hid under a bed. Logan, the family’s chihuahua rat-terrier mix, began barking at Rhodes, who then shot the dog, according to cops.
Rhodes walked into the bedroom and ordered the two children to accompany him. According to police, the other child took advantage of the situation by fleeing the apartment in search of assistance. Rhodes draped a blanket over the two children’s heads, but when one of them saw the dog’s body, she “dropped to the ground crying and saying she was not going with the suspect,” police said.
“The suspect became more irritated, told the juveniles to get in the closet and if they called anyone he would hurt them,” according to the warrant.
One of the children called their mother from the closet, who ran to the apartment. Rhodes allegedly pointed a gun at her before jumping from a balcony and fleeing.
Police eventually apprehended Rhodes and arrested him. According to the affidavit, they found a gun he had used in some nearby bushes. Officers also noted that Rhodes appeared intoxicated.
The mother of the children, all under the age of ten, has a domestic violence injunction against Rhodes.
“The victim and her minor children are deathly terrified of Mr. Rhodes,” a victim’s advocate told a judge on Tuesday morning, according to The Post and Courier.
Rhodes is currently being held in the Al Cannon Detention Center without bond.
