Centreville man arrested for shooting and killing neighbor’s dog, police say

A man from Centreville is facing firearm and animal cruelty charges after allegedly shooting his neighbor’s dog multiple times, resulting in the animal’s death.

According to Fairfax County police, 33-year-old Roman Vyacheslavov Gorelov shot a 2-year-old yellow Labrador and beagle mix after an argument with the dog’s owner at the Stonegate Faircrest Condominiums Friday morning (Nov. 11):

Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau preliminarily determined Gorelov exchanged words with the owner of the Labrador mix in the breezeway of the apartments. Gorelov then displayed a firearm and shot the dog. The owner picked up the dog and ran away from the breezeway. Gorelov followed the man then shot the dog several more times.

Officers responded to the scene in the 5100 block of Brittney Elyse Circle at 9:47 a.m. and found the dog’s owner next to the animal near a playground, police said.

They were told that Gorelov “returned to his nearby apartment” after the shooting, according to police.

“Officers contacted Gorelov by phone, and he surrendered to police. The dog was taken to a nearby veterinarian hospital and pronounced deceased,” the Fairfax County Police Department said.

Gorelov has been charged with animal cruelty and reckless discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school — both felonies. The Stonegate Faircrest Condos are just south of I-66 near Arrowhead Park and Colin Powell Elementary School.

Detectives located a firearm while conducting a search of Gorelov’s apartment, according to police.

Gorelov is currently in being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.