Britton Shackelford, one of the stars of the spinoff reality series Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks, has reportedly been arrested for alleged animal cruelty.
According to the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, the 57-year-old fisherman-turned-reality star on November 8 in response to reports of a missing dog.
The dog had been reported missing around 6 p.m. on the same day, and an investigation by the Dare County Sheriff’s Office and Dare County Animal Control subsequently discovered a dog that had allegedly been shot and killed, as well as a gun that was believed to have been used in the killing, according to WAVY News.
In the course of the investigation, Sheriff’s deputies reportedly identified Shackelford as the suspect and obtained an arrest warrant for him.
According to the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Shackelford was ‘involved in the incident and discharged a firearm, resulting in the death of the animal.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Shackelford for comment but has not yet received a response.
Britton Shackelford, one of the stars of the spinoff reality series Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks, has reportedly been arrested for alleged animal cruelty
Dare County Sheriff’s deputies after a dog was reported missing and subsequently found dead after being shot. Law enforcement officers obtained the weapon believed to have shot the dog; Shackelford is pictured in his mug shot
The fishing captain has since been charged with felony cruelty to animals, as well as a misdemeanor charge for allegedly firing a gun within 300 yards of an occupied home.
As of Thursday afternoon, Shackelford was reportedly being held at the Dare County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center
He had reportedly made his first court appearance earlier in the day, and he is now being held on a $7,000 secured bond, according to WAVY News.
Shackelford is best known for starring on a spinoff to the National Geographic Channel reality series Wicked Tuna, which followed Massachusetts-based fisherman as they hunted for pricey Atlantic bluefin tuna in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The series, which ended in 2024, began airing in 2012, and two years later, Wicked Tuna: North Vs. South premiered.
The series, which was renamed Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks beginning with its second season, took the search for the Atlantic bluefin tuna to the Southeastern United States coast, where fishermen based in North Carolina and Virginia tried to catch the massive fish.
Shackelford was featured on the show as the captain of his boat, Doghouse.
He appeared on the first five seasons fo the show, before returning for its eighth season.
According to the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, Shackelford was ‘involved in the incident and discharged a firearm, resulting in the death of the animal.’
The fishing captain has since been charged with felony cruelty to animals, as well as a misdemeanor charge for allegedly firing a gun within 300 yards of an occupied home
Shackelford captained his boat the Doghouse on the Wicked Tuna spinoff Wicked Tuna: Outer Banks for six seasons. He offers fishing trips in the waters off North Carolina
Outerbanks last aired in November 2021.
Shackelford’s LinkedIn profile notes that he has owned and operated Doghouse Sportfishing going back to 1999.
Shackelford’s website states that the Doghouse is a 61-foot custom-built fishing boat that is certified to carry up to 24 passengers.
His website offers fishing trips costing around $2,600 for six or fewer passengers, with larger parties paying additional per-passenger fees.
