Pregnant cat shot to death
Beckley, WV (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 22, 2007
County: Raleigh

Disposition: Open

Suspect(s) Unknown - We need your help!

Beckley police say they are shocked and disgusted after a mother cat and her newborn and unborn kittens were killed at a city apartment complex.

At 2:40 p.m. March 22, Cpls. Bryan Atterson and S.D. Webb responded to Lewis-Ritchie Apartments, Detective Cpl. David Allard said. A woman told them she first saw several juveniles in the area. She believed they were carrying a small-caliber handgun or pellet gun.

Then the woman said she heard a gunshot, Allard said. She went outside to find her cat shot in the head. The cat was in the process of giving birth. The suspects had gutted the cat and removed the kittens. The mother cat and the kittens were all dead.

"This is very serious, shocking and disgusting," Allard said. "It is troubling that anyone would do this to an animal. It was defenseless, in the process of giving birth. That's troubling for me."

Allard said the police want to find the culprits right away because statistics show that juveniles committing such crimes against an animal will go on to commit even more disturbing crimes as adults - often with humans for victims.

"Statistics show that if someone has this tendency as a child - to mutilate animals - they could turn out to be serial predators, murderers, even serial killers," he said. "It is very important to find out who these people are so we can dig deeper into their backgrounds.

"It's just appalling."

Anyone who may have seen juveniles in the area or know of any juveniles reported to carry guns are asked to contact police, Allard said. The juveniles may live in the vicinity of Lewis-Ritchie Apartments. Allard emphasized anyone giving information to the police can remain anonymous.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Beckley Police Department at 256-1708 or Crime Stoppers at 255-7867.

If you have information on this case, please contact:
Beckley Police Department
256-1708

References

• WVNS - March 23, 2007
• Register-Herald - March 23, 2007

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