Police: Vineland man dies after shooting himself at animal hospital

MILLVILLE – The death of his beloved dog was apparently one loss too many for Robert Zapar, who killed himself out of grief on Thursday outside a local animal hospital.

Zapar, 35, and Peyton, a 10-year-old Rottweiler, had been inseparable over the last decade. The dog died from an illness in December.

“Robbie and Peyton were extremely close,” said Robert Haydak, his uncle. “Robbie is a recent homeowner. He put a ramp on the front of the house for the dog. He had the yard fenced in. Basically, his life revolved around Peyton.”

On Friday, city police identified Zapar as the shooting victim at the Animal Clinic of Millville on West Main Street.

Detective Lt. Ross Hoffman said Zapar shot himself, while sitting in his pickup truck in the parking lot. He had just delivered a four-page note to the office, asking to have it given to his veterinarian.

Hoffman said the letter detailed what happened with the dog and his grief.

Haydak confirmed Peyton had been ill and scheduled for surgery on his spleen, but the dog then staged an apparent comeback. His nephew at that point chose not to pursue the surgery and the dog relapsed, he said.

Peyton died in his owner’s arms outside the clinic, where Zapar had rushed the ailing animal, the uncle said.

Zapar had suffered a fractured skull in a motorcycle accident in late 2009 while living in Florida. The injury left him near death and with a long, difficult rehabilitation.

Haydak said his nephew, then 25, was cut off by a hit-and-run driver and was kept in a coma for several weeks.

“And, basically, it forced him to learn over how to walk and how to talk,” Haydak said.

Last year, Zapar went to work at the Landis Sewerage Authority.

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“It was another hurdle he had overcome,” Haydak said. “It was a job he was very proud of. He had a lot of affection for his co-workers and bosses he looked up to. He spoke very highly of them.”

Zapar was a 2001 graduate of Sacred Heart High School in Vineland. As a senior, the school started a wrestling program organized by Haydak.

Haydak said his nephew was very good, finishing with a 20-2 record. His younger brother, Jamie, also wrestled.

In his 20s, Zapar worked for his uncle in a business in the Poconos. “He was always super-talented, super honest,” his uncle said.

Joseph P. Smith; jpsmith_dj; (856) 563-5252; jsmith@gannettnj.com

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