A tragic incident unfolded in California as a gunman ruthlessly massacred over 80 animals, including mini-horses, chickens, and goats, in a horrifying three-hour shooting spree at a farm where he resided, as reported by the police.
Vicente Joseph Arroyo, a 39-year-old individual from Salinas, is accused of brutally murdering 81 animals and causing severe injuries to at least five more during a deranged rampage in the Prunedale area on Tuesday morning, according to the Monterey County Police.
Arroyo heartlessly targeted “miniature horses, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, and other types of birds” without any apparent reason before crashing a vehicle in a shrub-dotted area near Lemus Farm on Avery Lane, as stated by the Monterey County sheriff’s officials to the LA Times.
The spokesperson for the police department, Beth Brookhouser, expressed the sentiment of horror and heartbreak, stating, “All the animals involved were sadly found deceased except for five severely injured parakeets who needed to be humanely euthanized to end their suffering.”
Arroyo, although a resident on the farm, is not employed there and allegedly used an illegal assault weapon along with rifles, shotguns, and handguns to carry out the massacre.
The motive behind the attack remains unknown, with authorities suggesting it was likely a random act of violence.
Cmdr. Andres Rosas, a spokesperson for the Monterey County sheriff, expressed his shock, saying, “Being an animal lover, they become part of your family, and for them to be taken in this manner is horrible.”
Arroyo had allegedly concealed at least 15 firearms, including a “ghost gun,” and 2,000 rounds of ammunition on the property, according to a statement by the police.
The animals that survived the massacre were euthanized by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals due to the severity of their injuries.
Arroyo is facing charges of cruelty to animals and illegal possession of an assault weapon, with his bail initially set at $50,000, but investigators have requested to increase it to $1 million.
