A 59-year-old Cohasset man has been charged with animal cruelty and multiple firearms violations following an investigation into the fatal shooting of a family dog last summer, according to Cohasset Police.
Christopher Lucas was arrested Monday by Cohasset Police detectives and charged with animal cruelty, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, hunting without a license, and hunting out of season.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Aug. 16, 2025, at a residence on Hillside Drive in Cohasset.
According to investigators, Lucas allegedly attempted to hunt coyotes from a second-floor window of a room located above his garage. Police determined that the residence is located within 500 feet of several occupied dwellings.
During the incident, Lucas discharged a firearm from the window and struck and killed a 14-year-old pet dog named Lise. The dog, which belonged to Lucas’ wife, was in the driveway area of the home when it was shot in the head, according to police.
Investigators also determined that Lucas did not possess a valid Massachusetts hunting license at the time and that the hunting activity occurred outside the legal hunting season.
Police said the incident was captured on the home’s security camera system. The footage shows the dog being shot and includes a family member crying over the dying animal.
Following an investigation by Cohasset Police detectives, charges were sought and issued. As part of the investigation, the Cohasset Police Department suspended Lucas’s license to carry firearms and seized multiple firearms from the residence.
Lucas is currently being held at the Cohasset Police Department on $1,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning in Quincy District Court.
Cohasset Police Chief William Quigley said the investigation was conducted thoroughly and emphasized the seriousness of the incident.
“This was a deeply disturbing incident that involved the unlawful discharge of a firearm in a residential neighborhood and the tragic killing of a family pet,” Quigley said. “Our detectives conducted a thorough and professional investigation to ensure that the facts were carefully documented and that appropriate charges were pursued. I want to commend their diligence and also thank the Massachusetts Environmental Police for their assistance and partnership in this investigation.”
The Cohasset Police Department said hunting laws and firearms regulations are designed to protect both public safety and animal welfare, and violations will be investigated.