A man from California was taken into custody on Tuesday after a shooting incident that lasted three hours, resulting in the deaths of numerous animals and causing local residents to seek shelter, as reported by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.
Vicente Joseph Arroyo, 39, was arrested on charges related to animal cruelty and reckless discharge of a firearm after authorities claim he indiscriminately fired multiple guns, resulting in the deaths of around 80 animals.
Reports of gunshots in the unincorporated area of Prunedale, located approximately 38 miles south of San Jose, started coming in around 3:25 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies who arrived at the scene continued to hear gunshots and instructed residents within a five-mile radius to stay indoors.
Monterey County Sheriff’s Office
Deputies heard gunshots from an area with dense vegetation but initially struggled to locate the shooter, as per the sheriff’s office.
With the sunrise, a drone managed to find Arroyo in a vineyard near a crashed vehicle. He was apprehended without further incident.
Various animals, including miniature horses, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, and other birds, were shot and killed. Some animals survived but had to be euthanized due to the severity of their wounds.
During a search of Arroyo’s residence and related structures, law enforcement allegedly found five rifles, a shotgun, a handgun, and about 2,000 rounds of ammunition. One of the rifles and the handgun reportedly lacked serial numbers.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto stated in a press release, “The execution of the warrant by our deputies and detectives, which led to the confiscation of these additional weapons, has undoubtedly enhanced the safety of our community. I believe we have averted another potential tragedy in the future.”
Arroyo is being held on a $1,000,000 bond and is set to appear in court on September 18. At the time of writing, JS was unable to ascertain his legal representation.
