Sheriff: Man Shoots At Dog, Family and Deputies

AMADOR COUNTY (CBS13) – A situation out in rural Amador County that started violently ended peacefully Thursday night.

The Amador County Sheriff's Office says that their deputies were called to the 1800 block of Carbondale Road, about seven miles northeast of Ione, just after 5 p.m. for a reported shooting. The caller told 911 that his neighbor – 66-year-old Jack Edward Souza – had not only shot at him and his family, but had also shot the family dog.

Deputies showed up at the scene but were also shot at by Souza, the department says. SWAT and Crisis Negotiation teams were immediately called to the scene, while California Highway Patrol units – including a CHP helicopter – also showed up to help.

The family that Souza allegedly shot at, along with other nearby neighbors, were soon evacuated and a standoff with Souza ensued.

Negotiators were able to get Souza to surrender peacefully by 9 p.m. Once in custody, deputies say that Souza admitted to them that he tried kill his neighbors – and he admitted to shooting at the first round of deputies to show up.

Inside Souza's home, authorities found several guns and spent cartridges on the floor. Further, a barricaded shooting port was also seen.

The dog Souza allegedly shot was taken to VCA Animal Hospital in Sacramento but died from its injuries.

Souza was booked at Amador County Jail on charges of attempted murder, assault with a firearm on a peace officer, shooting into an inhabited dwelling and animal cruelty.