Fight over feeding feral cats leads to fatal shooting: Lexington Police

LEXINGTON, S.C. (WLTX) -- Sean Eric Malahy, 49, is charged with murder in the death of Judy Burnett, 72, after allegedly shooting the woman in an argument over feral cats, according to Lexington Police.

Officers say Burnett got into an argument about feeding feral cats with a witness who was with Malahy on Thursday afternoon on West Main Street in downtown Lexington. Officers say Malahy then argued with Burnett, which turned into a physical fight. During this fight, police say Malahy shot Burnett.

Malahy was taken into custody at the scene in possession of a handgun.

Police say they determined Burnett and Malahy had known each other for a number of years and that they had ongoing disagreements about their own involvement in the feeding, trapping, and releasing of feral cats that are known to live behind businesses in the woods behind the business.

The Post & Courier reports police found Burnett near a fence behind the Town Square shopping center with a gunshot wound to the face at about 5:40 p.m. She died en route to the hospital.