Falcons Release LB Prince Shembo After He’s Accused Of Killing Dog

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – The attorney of former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Prince Shembo called the incident regarding his ex-girlfriend’s dog an “accident,” as he bonds out from the Gwinnett County Jail on animal cruelty charges.

“[The dog] Dior was found to have significant internal injuries, and the cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma,” said Corporal Deon Washington of the Gwinnett County Police Department.

The police report said April 15, the 23-year-old linebacker’s then-girlfriend, Denicia Williams, 20, left the Yorkshire Terrier named Dior at Shembo’s Buford apartment, and returned to find the dog barely moving, and rushed it to the hospital, where it died. The report said the veterinarian told Williams the dog suffered trauma and was in severe pain.

The report said the next day, Williams told investigators Shembo allegedly said to her, “What if I told you I kicked your dog,” and then when asked if it happened just once, he allegedly said “no.”

“He is such a beast. A 260 pound man, to stomp and kick a five pound Yorkie?” said Gary Williams, Denicia Williams’ father, who believes Shembo was a jealous boyfriend who was jealous of the attention given to the dog, which she had for three years.

“He got bit, made a mistake and kicked the dog,” said attorney Jerry Froelich, Jr., who represents Shembo.

“He’s in tears. The Falcons cut him. He didn’t mean to kill the dog,” he said.