Inmate charged with robbing Beach store, shooting puppy

VIRGINIA BEACH

Authorities have charged a 19-year-old with a robbery and puppy shooting that took place in April.

Seaman Stanley Stewart, who is stationed on the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, is accused of two counts of armed robbery, two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony, conspiracy to commit a felony, and cruelty to animals last week, according to a news release.

Police served the warrants to Stewart in the Norfolk City Jail, where he was being held for involvement in a home-invasion robbery, according to the release.

On the evening of April 19, three armed men entered GFY Clothing, a screen printing shop on South Birdneck Road, and threatened the employees, telling them to lie on the floor, said shop owner Chuck Smellinger.

Smellinger was dog-sitting Rico, a friend's year-old pit bull puppy. When the robbers saw the dog, one shot him in the head with a .45-caliber handgun.

Rico then attacked, clamping onto one robber's arm and buying the shop's employees a few minutes to escape through a back door, Smellinger said.

"I know for a fact he saved our lives," he said shortly after the robbery. "It was amazing because I've never seen him act out aggressively."

Rico survived but suffered severe injuries to his left eye, chest and back leg.

The canine's veterinarian bills totaled more than $900, which Animal Control paid. Officials have said that if someone is convicted in the shooting, they hope to include the vet costs as part of the sentence.

No other arrests have been made in the robbery.

Through donations, T-shirt sales and a fundraiser, Smellinger and Rico's owner, Christopher Selby, have also raised about $1,000 for the dog's ongoing care and vet costs, Smellinger said.

Most of Rico's injuries have healed, but he hasn't regained full use of his eye, he said.

Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com