CHATFIELD, Minn. (KTTC) — Authorities have arrested a man accused of shooting and killing a dog during a domestic dispute with his two children present.

The children are 1 and 2 years old. One child was just five or six feet away when the man allegedly shot the dog, according to deputies.

The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office has identified the man as 31-year-old Richard Jordan of Chatfield. This happened last Friday around 6:30 p.m. during an argument between Jordan and his girlfriend. It took place inside his residence at the 13,000 Block of Highway 52 SE.

At one point, the woman said she fell to the ground. Deputies said the argument escalated, and the dog tried to protect the woman by nipping at Jordan.

Jordan then allegedly shot the family dog with a 12 gauge shotgun and left the scene. The dog was an 8-year-old pitbull lab mix.

Authorities located the shotgun used in the incident. The woman reportedly took the gun, disassembled it and locked the shotgun in a car after he left.

Jordan was arrested in the city of Rochester around 7:45 a.m. on Saturday. He told authorities that the incident was an accident, according to deputies.

Deputies said Jordan is facing eight charges, including felony reckless discharge of a firearm, multiple domestic assault related charges, and one count of overwork or mistreatment of an animal.