In a case that has deeply disturbed the Broward County community, a 14-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection to an incident involving the death of a neighborhood cat.
The incident occurred April 21 in the area of NW 28th Terrace and NW 4th Street, in an unincorporated area of the county near Fort Lauderdale.
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A neighbor’s surveillance footage, obtained by NBC6, reveals the moments leading up to the cat’s killing. It shows the juvenile allegedly throwing an object at a stray black cat, prompting the cat to jump down from a car where it was resting, and be chased by two dogs.
The neighborhood cat, named Ringo, was found dead in a nearby yard the next day with bite marks on its body.
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NBC6 spoke to the woman who found the cat's body.
“That morning when they were feeding him, he was missing,” she said. “And we all went looking everywhere around the block and all that. But yes, I found him because my neighbor told me that he goes back there for a safe place.”
Broward Sheriff's Office detectives announced the arrest of the juvenile a week and a half after the incident, resulting in multiple felony charges.
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The suspect faces charges of animal cruelty involving torment, animal cruelty resulting in death, and baiting of animals.
“This was a reprehensible and very cruel act,” said BSO spokesperson Carey Codd. “So, for several days, members of the Broward Sheriff's Office special victims unit, detectives with that unit, were in that area conducting an investigation. They were gathering evidence. They were talking to individuals.”
BSO is urging the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that could indicate animal abuse, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable animals from harm.
