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AMADOR COUNTY –

On Carbondale road in Amador County, you’ll typically see horses grazing and dogs playing catch, not police barricades and helicopters.

But Thursday night wasn’t a typical situation.

“I’ve never seen that many police here in Amador County,” said resident Michelle Dodge.

Dodge first heard the shots around 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

“I kind of figured someone is shooting coyotes. And then I saw some police go zipping by,” Dodge said.

The Amador County Sheriff’s Office says the shooting was actually Jack Souza firing his high-powered rifle at his next door neighbors.

Although bullets hit the house, no people were hit.

But deputies say Souza shot and killed the family’s dog, a German Shepherd, for reasons they can’t explain.

“He has some speech impediment problems due to his illness, so we’re not able to get a clear picture into what the issue was,” said Martin Ryan of the Amador County Sheriff’s Office.

Other neighbors tell FOX40 off camera Souza was fighting with his next door neighbors, who had recently become his landlords, to stay in this smaller blue modular home on the property.

“Anyone shooting at dogs or people is a little frightening,” said Dodge.

When deputies arrived, the Sheriff’s Office says he turned the gun on them. That kicked off an hours-long standoff.

“It was a very volatile, very dangerous situation. High-power rifle fire was being shot. Multiple rounds were being fired as our deputies were taking position,” Ryan said.

Eventually Souza came out of his home peacefully.

Neighbors say Souza suffers from Parkinson’s disease, and that had previous disagreements with his landlords over firing his gun. But none expect him to take things this far.

“Obviously he didn’t get along with his neighbors too well,” Dodge said.

During questioning, Souza reportedly admitted to deputies he was trying to kill his neighbors. That’s why he faces attempted murder as well as assault with a firearm on a peace officer.

SWAT team members tried to render first aid to that German Shepherd, and rushed it to VCA Animal Hospital in Sacramento. But ultimately it did not survive.