Georgia man confesses to fatally shooting his neighbor and his dog over droppings left in his yard

  • Larry Bates, 46, was charged with felony murder and animal cruelty
  • The incident occurred last month in Auburn, Georgia at 1am
  • Officers arrived to find Paul Wilson, 44, and one of his dogs shot dead
  • Wilson's wife, Beth, says Bates was 'obsessed' with the idea that their dogs were leaving feces in his front yard

By Mary Kekatos and James Gordon For Dailymail.com

Published: 13:12 EST, 10 August 2017 | Updated: 13:12 EST, 10 August 2017

Larry Russell Bates, 46 (pictured), from Auburn, Georgia, had admitted to shooting and killing his neighbor, Paul Allen Wilson, 44, and his dog last month

Larry Russell Bates, 46 (pictured), from Auburn, Georgia, had admitted to shooting and killing his neighbor, Paul Allen Wilson, 44, and his dog last month

A Georgia man has confessed to killing his neighbor last month after believing his dog was leaving feces in his yard.

Larry Russell Bates, 46, from Auburn, was charged with felony murder and animal cruelty for shooting and killing Paul Allen Wilson, 44, and one of Wilson's dogs. 

'Mr. (Larry) Bates confessed to shooting Paul Allen Wilson because the dog was using the bathroom in his yard,' Lt. Chris Hodge of the Auburn Police Department testified. 

Bates was arrested after the Auburn Police Department received a call about a neighborhood dispute on Crest Pointe Court in Auburn at about 1am in the early hours of July 2. 

Wilson had just taken his dog out for a walk when he and his pet were gunned down, officials said.

Larry Bates has confessed after being  charged in connection with the shooting death of a former neighbor in Barrow County

Larry Bates has confessed after being  charged in connection with the shooting death of a former neighbor in Barrow County

By the time officers arrived to assist, Wilson had been shot in the head and torso - and one of the family dogs was dead.

Wilson's wife, Beth, told WSB-TV that Bates was 'obsessed' because he was convinced their dogs were leaving droppings in his yard. 

She says their dogs weren't responsible but offered to clean the waste up anyway.

After the shooting, Bates was booked into the Barrow County Detention Center on murder and animal cruelty charges, officials said. 

Wilson’s wife, Beth said after the shooting, “Bates just started harassing us about two months ago. He thought our dogs were using the bathroom in his yard.” She said it wasn't true

Wilson’s wife, Beth said after the shooting, “Bates just started harassing us about two months ago. He thought our dogs were using the bathroom in his yard.” She said it wasn't true

Paul came home from work as he normally did and took his dog and his mother-in-law's dog on a walk. While on that walk his life was taken by a senseless act of violence by his neighbor

Paul came home from work as he normally did and took his dog and his mother-in-law's dog on a walk. While on that walk his life was taken by a senseless act of violence by his neighbor

Wilson's (pictured) wife, Beth, said Bates was 'obsessed' because he was convinced their dogs were leaving feces in his yard and would often watch for her husband going on nightly walks with the dog=

Wilson's (pictured) wife, Beth, said Bates was 'obsessed' because he was convinced their dogs were leaving feces in his yard and would often watch for her husband going on nightly walks with the dog=

Wilson's wife, Beth, told Channel 2 news right after the shooting, '(Bates) just started harassing us about two months ago. He thought our dogs were using the bathroom in his yard.' She said the accusations were false. 

Beth added that Bates would often wait and watch for her husband going on nightly walks with the dogs.

On the night of the shooting, Beth heard the shots and ran outside to find Paul laying on the sidewalk. 

She called 911 and a neighbor assisted her in getting the paramedics and cops to the scene. 

Unfortunately, it was too late and he died in her arms there on the sidewalk.

Bates thought Paul's dogs were using the restroom in his yard and he wasn't picking it up the droppings. 

He would wait and watch for Paul's nightly walks with his dogs. After multiple confrontations, Paul even tried to settle the situation by offering to pick up any dog waste that was being left behind.

There were several months of harassment and seven separate police calls made about Bates by Beth and Paul to the local police department, but it wasn't enough.

Beth heard the shots and ran outside to find Paul laying on the sidewalk. She called 911 and a neighbor assisted her in getting the paramedics and cops to the scene

Beth heard the shots and ran outside to find Paul laying on the sidewalk. She called 911 and a neighbor assisted her in getting the paramedics and cops to the scene

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral expenses. So far, $1,220 has been raised out of a $10,00 goal. 

According to records, obtained by DailyMail.com, this is not the first time Bates has been in trouble with the law.

In 2010, he pleaded no contest to four counts of simple battery and one count of family violence battery, serving probation for 12 months.

In 2012, he pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal trespass, serving probation for 12 months and paying a $680 fine and serving 12 months' probation.

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