In the small town of Lincolnton, Georgia, a cat was senselessly hunted down, shot, and killed on April 17, 2026. According to a police report and body camera footage, the shooter was Lizzy Long, the wife of Lincolnton Mayor Mike McCombs. Even more disturbingly, McCombs actively encouraged the killing of the cat.
This was an act of horrific and illegal cruelty, and justice must be served.
Alley Cat Allies is demanding the arrest and filing of criminal charges against Mayor McCombs, Lizzy Long, and the cat’s owner. We are also demanding the immediate removal of McCombs from office.
If you live in Georgia, join us in demanding justice. Or, share this post and spread the word. We need as many voices as possible to put the pressure on.
A Senseless Act of Cruelty to Cats, Sanctioned by the Mayor
According to a police report, Mayor McCombs requested that Lincolnton Police Officer Jason Shelton go to a Lincolnton property to shoot a cat who belonged to the residents. In a face-to-face meeting with the mayor, Officer Shelton stated that he “couldn’t shoot the cat unless it was actively attacking someone.”
Mayor McCombs then instructed Officer Shelton to “go to the house and give the cat owner [his] gun and let him shoot the cat.” Officer Shelton refused, citing “incredible liability” for the city if he handed over his weapon to a civilian. Mayor McCombs’ request is severely troubling and inappropriate, as it encourages a police officer to engage in unlawful conduct.
Officer Shelton subsequently went to the property and reiterated that he could not shoot the cat. However, Mayor McCombs arrived on the scene along with Long, his wife, who proceeded to actively seek out and kill the cat by discharging her shotgun.
Body camera footage shows that the cat did not die immediately and suffered significantly. In his report, Officer Shelton described that the cat “rolled around in pain, screaming and finally died.”
Cruelty to Cats Violates Georgia Law
Long’s actions violated multiple Georgia laws. Under GA. CODE ANN. § 16-12-4(b), “a person commits the offense of cruelty to animals when he or she: (1) causes physical pain, suffering, or death to an animal by any unjustifiable act or omission.” Aggravated cruelty to animals applies when a person “maliciously causes the death of an animal.” Additionally, Sec. 30-5 of the Lincolnton City Ordinance states that “it shall be unlawful for any person to discharge a firearm…within the city, except by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.”
Mayor McCombs and the cat owner aided and abetted these actions by actively encouraging them.
Beyond the apparent legal violations, the killing of this cat was unnecessary by every measure. Officer Shelton noted that while the owner alleged that the cat “attacked” him the day before the shooting, it was his professional opinion that the owner “fell on the cat and possibly hurt the animal, and the cat attacked him trying to get away.” When Officer Shelton arrived on the scene, the cat was hiding behind the garage, terrified and posing no threat. There was absolutely no need for lethal action, and every humane option was available.
Based on available information, criminal charges should be filed against Mayor McCombs, Lizzy Long, and the cat’s owner. We respectfully urge your office to pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.
View the Full Police Body Cam Video
You can view the full police bodycam footage here. Please note that the content is disturbing.