A California gunman went on a terrifying three-hour shooting spree at his family's farm, slaughtering more than 80 animals, including miniature horses, chickens and goats, police said.
Vicente Joseph Arroyo, 39, of Salinas, is accused of killing 81 hoofed, furry and feathered animals and severely injuring at least five others during a crazed rampage in the Prunedale neighborhood Tuesday morning. Monterey County Police Department.
Arroyo is accused of callously shooting and killing “miniature horses, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks and other types of birds” for no apparent reason before crashing his vehicle in a brush-strewn area near the Lemus Farm on Avery Lane, according to the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. LA Times.
“[It’s] “It's horrifying and heartbreaking,” police department spokeswoman Beth Brookhauser told the paper. “Sadly, all of the animals involved were found deceased, except for five severely injured parakeets that had to be humanely euthanized to end their suffering.”
Arroyo lives on the farm but is not employed there and is accused of using illegal assault weapons, along with a rifle, shotgun and handgun, to slaughter the animals.
Police said the motive for the attack was unclear and that it was likely a random attack.
“I've been in law enforcement for 24 years and I've never seen anything like this,” said Commander Andres Rosas, a spokesman for the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. “To animal lovers, animals are part of the family, and it's horrible when they're taken like this.”
Police said Arroyo had concealed at least 15 firearms, including “ghost guns,” and 2,000 rounds of ammunition on the property. In a statement.
Police said the animals that survived the massacre were euthanized by the nonprofit organization, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, due to the severity of their injuries.
Arroyo was charged with animal cruelty and unlawful possession of an assault weapon.
Bail was originally set at $50,000, but investigators petitioned for it to be increased to $1 million.
