Who was Lonnie A. Ray? South Carolina dog breeder fatally shot after sale of French bulldog goes wrong

Lonnie A. Ray, a South Carolina dog breeder was fatally shot on Monday night after an organized sale of a French bulldog went wrong, authorities said Thursday.

Who was Lonnie A. Ray?

Lonnie A. Ray was a 76-year-old, described by the Lee County sheriff as “probably the best breeder in South Carolina,” who arranged to meet a buyer in the parking lot of a KFC in Bishopville, about 53 miles northeast of Columbia.

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As he usually did in the past, Ray was accompanied by a friend for Monday’s sale, which was arranged online. The same friend was frequently tagged along for these kinds of meetings, reported Sheriff Daniel Simon. Ray spoke to the potential buyer over a phone call. 

Ahead of the $2,500 transaction could take place, the other person took out a handgun and began shooting towards Ray and his friend, said Sheriff Simon. 

The person drove away in a sedan with the puppy in tow, accompanied by three or four people in the vehicle. 

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As the officers reached the crime spot, they saw Ray on the ground with gunshot wounds. This wasn’t immediately clear that day how many times he’d been shot. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead after an hour. An autopsy will be performed on Friday. 

The person who accompanied Ray wasn’t injured by the gunfire. The stolen French bulldog wasn’t found till Thursday, according to the sheriff. 

The highly-demanded dog breed made headlines in 2021 for its popularity and expensive price tags. This happened after pop star Lady Gaga’s two French bulldogs were violently stolen. Gaga’s dogwalker was shot and injured during the robbery. The two dogs were later returned.

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South Carolina officials are reviewing surveillance cameras to ascertain the identities and whereabouts of the shooter and others involved in the botched dog sale.

To minimize future risks associated with transactions executed through social media, the sheriff’s office plans to create a meeting zone that will be located within the agency’s Bishopville location, Simon said.