California Man Accused Of Massacring 81 Farm Animals

A man has been accused of massacring over 80 farm animals in a shocking shooting spree in rural California.

Villain massacring farm animals on Tuesday

Vicente Joseph Arroyo, 39, allegedly carried out the gruesome massacre early Tuesday morning over a three-hour period, before being discovered by police on the property.

Arroyo’s victims varied from ponies and goats to guinea pigs, chickens, birds, rabbits, and ducks, according to authorities. A miniature horse was also among the slain animals.

The violent rampage caused nearby residents to seek shelter, and the motive behind the killings remains unclear.

The incident concluded with Arroyo’s arrest, and multiple firearms, including long rifles, shotguns, handguns, and an illegal assault weapon were found at the scene.

The handgun and one of the rifles reportedly did not have serial numbers.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement detailing Arroyo’s arrest, explaining that they received multiple calls about gunshots being fired around 3:25 am on Tuesday.

Deputies arrived to find shots still being fired and implemented a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.

“Various calibers of weapons” were heard being discharged “in an area that was extremely dark and covered in thick vegetation,” making it challenging for deputies to locate the shooter immediately.

To assist in locating the suspect, the Monterey County SWAT team and a drone from the Seaside Fire Department and Gonzales Police Department were deployed.

The drone located Arroyo and his crashed vehicle on a vineyard property along Avery Lane. The SWAT team approached the suspect in an armored vehicle while he was sitting in the smashed car, leading to Arroyo’s surrender.

Police shocked by gruesome crime scene

Upon securing the scene, authorities discovered the extent of his horrific actions. 81 animals were found dead on the property, alongside various firearms and spent magazines.

Some injured animals were taken by the SPCA for euthanasia due to the severity of their injuries.

The gruesome scene left even seasoned investigators appalled. SPCA Investigator Jacob Duarte described the experience as something he had never encountered before, recalling the sight of a shot pony as particularly shocking.

Neighbors of the targeted property reported being awakened by a continuous stream of gunfire.

Monterey County Sheriff’s Spokesman Andy Rosas described the scene as “horrible,” noting that it was “very fortunate that no human lives were lost.”

“We don’t have any information that the suspect was looking for anyone specific, but it appears from what we see that the animals were the targets,” he added.

During his hours-long shooting spree, Arroyo killed 14 goats, nine chickens, seven ducks, five rabbits, a guinea pig and 33 parakeets and cockatiels.

He also murdered a pony named Lucky and two miniature horses named Estrella and Princessa.

Duarte explained that they are working to determine the breeds and value of each animal, with prices ranging from $20 for chickens to several hundred dollars for horses.

The local District Attorney indicated that Arroyo could face up to 10 years in prison for the 81 animals he killed.

In the meantime, Arroyo remains incarcerated on charges of willful discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, cruelty to animals, illegal possession of an assault weapon, vandalism, criminal threats, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Police find more weapons in home of man accused of massacring farm animals

After his arrest, sheriff’s deputies served a warrant at his home, where they recovered six rifles and a ghost gun.

They also found around 2000 rounds of various types of ammunition, which was seized along with the guns.

“It is without a doubt that the warrant served by our deputies and detectives, which has resulted in the seizure of these additional weapons, has made our community safer,” Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto remarked.

“I am confident that we have prevented another tragedy from happening in the future.”

Arroyo pleaded not guilty to 93 separate counts involving 69 charges for massacring animals in his first court appearance on Thursday.

According to prosecutors, the amount of animal cruelty charges will likely increase.

“This is obviously the most horrific animal cruelty case we’ve ever seen in this county, I’m sure. I’m sure it’s in the history of the county. I’ve been here for 35 years, and I can tell you easily the worst,” Chief Assistant District Attorney Berkley Brannon commented.

The judge on the case suspended criminal proceedings until after Arroyo undergoes a mental evaluation, following his defense attorney raising questions about the suspect’s mental competency.

Arroyo was initially being held on $50,000 bond, but his bail has since been increased to $1 million.