GASTONIA — A Lincoln County man has been arrested after authorities say he shot and killed a pet snake.

The Gaston Gazette reports that deputies responded to a call of a shooting at a home at around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

There they found Gary Wayne Ericcson sitting on the front porch. Authorities also found a 20-gauge shotgun in a bedroom and a pistol on a nightstand. There were also several holes in the walls from shotgun blasts and a dead snake behind the house.

Ericcson told deputies he shot the pet snake. He faces several charges including felony cruelty to animals and was jailed on a $20,000 bond. It wasn't known if Ericcson had an attorney.