California gunman busted for murdering 81 animals in 3-hour shooting spree

A California gunman massacred greater than 80 animals — together with mini-horses, chickens and goats — in a horrifying, three-hour taking pictures spree at a farm the place he lived, in keeping with police.

Vicente Joseph Arroyo, 39, of Salinas, allegedly murdered 81 hoofed, furry and feathered creatures — and badly injured no less than 5 extra throughout a deranged rampage Tuesday morning within the Prunedale space,  in keeping with Monterey county police.

Arroyo is accused of heartlessly gunning down “miniature horses, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, geese and different forms of birds” for no obvious motive earlier than crashing a car in a shrub-dotted space close to at Lemus Farm on Avery Lane, Monterey County Sheriff’s officers instructed the LA Occasions.

“[It’s] horrific and heartbreaking,” Beth Brookhouser, a spokeswoman for the police division, instructed the paper. “All of the animals concerned have been sadly discovered deceased apart from 5 severely injured parakeets who wanted to be humanely euthanized to finish their struggling.”

Arroyo, who lives on the farm however is just not employed there, allegedly used an unlawful assault weapon together with rifles, shotguns and handguns to slaughter the animals.

Cops had no motive for the assault and stated it was seemingly random.

“I’ve been in regulation enforcement for twenty-four years and I’ve by no means seen something like this,” stated Cmdr. Andres Rosas, a Monterey County sheriff’s spokesperson. “Being an animal lover, they develop into a part of your loved ones, and for them to be taken on this method is horrible.”

Arroyo had allegedly stashed no less than 15 firearms, together with a “ghost gun,” together with 2,000 rounds of ammunition on the property, police stated in a press release.

The animals that survived the bloodbath have been euthanized by the non-profit group Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a result of severity of their accidents, police stated.

Arroyo was charged with cruelty to animals and unlawful possession of an assault weapon.

His bail was initially set at $50,000 however investigators have petitioned to boost it to $1 million.