By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — A Salisbury man shot his mother’s dog and threatened to shoot her and law officers, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

No motive was given.

The Sheriff’s Office charged Damian Lynn Holshouser, 48, of 225 Wagon Lane, with felony cruelty to animals, misdemeanor communicating threats and misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.

Officials say he shot his mother’s dog, which was in a kennel, and threatened to shoot his mother, Frankie Holshouser.

The 69-year-old woman called authorities to say her son was armed and inside a bedroom at her home. When deputies arrived, they met Damian Holshouser, who was standing in the hallway.

Holshouser told deputies he had a weapon in his right front pocket. Authorities found a .40 caliber Glock 22 model and seized it.

The dog was found dead inside the kennel. Nine spent shell casings were found in and around the kennel. Frankie Holshouser said her son shot the dog, went into the house to reload his gun and returned outside to shoot the dog several more times.

Frankie Holshouser said her son had had some behavioral problems for a couple of days. The mother said her son told her that she needed to shut up or she would be next.

She said her son told her to call authorities but that officers wouldn’t arrest him and he’d shoot them.

In 2011, Damian Holshouser was charged with assault after a woman accused him of urinating on her son. Holshouser pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by a judge in that case. All charges in the case, including driving while impaired, assault of a child younger than 12 and assault on a female, were disposed of in court.

Holshouser remains in the Rowan County Detention under a $25,000 secured bond for the latest charges.