Prince Shembo allegedly killed girlfriend's dog, police say

ByVAUGHN MCCLURE
May 29, 2015, 5:09 PM

— -- Atlanta Falcons linebacker Prince Shembo was arrested Friday and charged with killing his former girlfriend's dog, police said.

The incident occurred April 15 and the investigation was completed Thursday, Gwinnett County Police in Georgia said. Shembo was charged with felony aggravated cruelty to an animal.

Shembo allegedly told his girlfriend that he kicked the dog, a Yorkie. The woman later broke up with him. The Falcons are aware of the incident and intend to release a statement.

Shembo was a fourth-round draft pick out of Notre Dame in 2014. He participated in the team's organized team activities that began on Tuesday.

During the draft process, Shembo acknowledged being the Notre Dame player under investigation in the 2010 case of a St. Mary's College student who alleged she was inappropriately touched. Lizzy Seeberg, the student at Notre Dame's sister school, killed herself less than two weeks after the alleged incident. Shembo was never charged in the case.

"Pretty much it was an unfortunate event," Shembo said after the Falcons drafted him. "My name was pretty much cleared. It's behind me now. I just want to focus on playing football for the Falcons."

Shembo said he told the Falcons the truth about the incident.