PRUNEDALE, CA – Vicente Joseph Arroyo, 39, a resident of Salinas, California, has been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals and illegal possession of an assault weapon. Allegedly, Arroyo carried out a ruthless mass shooting spree targeting more than 80 animals on a Salinas farm where he lived. The junior horses, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, and other birds were killed indiscriminately with an unauthorized assault weapon, alongside rifles, shotguns, and handguns.
The Monterey County police stated the horrifying incident occurred on Tuesday morning and lasted for approximately three hours. Besides the 81 animals that were killed, five severely injured parakeets also had to be euthanized due to the extent of their suffering.
The attack occurred in a foliage-rich area near Lemus Farm on Avery Lane, but Arroyo was not an employee at the farm. The motive for his brutal attack has not been discerned, with police believing it to be a random act of violence.
Commenting on the incident, Cmdr. Andres Rosas, a spokesperson for Monterey County sheriff, expressed his shock, stating, “Being an animal lover, they become part of your family, and for them to be taken in this manner is horrible.”
Currently, Arroyo’s bail stands at $50,000, although investigators have recommended increasing it to $1 million, given the severity of the crimes.