Police have identified two teenagers they say killed a swan in Roger Williams Park.
The 16-year-old and 17-year-old boys appeared in Family Court Thursday and were charged with the malicious killing of an animal. The judge ordered home confinement for the two teens and said they must stay with their parents at all times. The pair can go to school or work.
The two will return to in court in September.
Jacob Hegnauer said he was taking pictures of wildlife in Roger Williams Park when he witnessed two boys kill a swan behind the Temple to Music. Before reporting the killing to police, Hegnauer managed to take one picture of the teens pedaling away on bicycles.
News Channel 10 reported that one teen hit the swan with a rock. As it struggled to survive, the boys hit it with more rocks until it died.
The dead animal was taken to the Providence Animal Shelter to be examined and photographed. The Police Department wanted to document the act of animal cruelty as it builds a criminal case.
"I think it is terrible. I think it is absolutely disgusting. It is very disturbing. And it is not fair. They are innocent," said Priscilla Pitters-Cox, of Providence.
Defenders of Animals offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Neighborhood MapFor more information about the Interactive Animal Cruelty Maps, see the map notes.
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