A 17-year-old Blackstone male faces multiple charges in connection with the alleged killing of a cat with an arrow.
The teen has been charged with the following crimes:
- Killing/maiming/poisoning an animal (felony)
- Damaging personal property (felony)
- Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling (misdemeanor)
- Discharging a firearm near a highway (misdemeanor)
The cat's owner, Donald Ingersoll, told Boston 25 News that his family was horrified to find their wounded cat, Lily, on Thursday night.
Lily, who was male, was coming in for the night when Ingersoll noticed something was terribly wrong.
"I noticed as he was going up the stairs, there was banging," Ingersoll said.
He was horrified when he looked closer.
"I noticed he had the arrow lodged in him, so I grabbed him and rushed him to the vet in Uxbridge," Ingersoll said.
But the cat's injuries were too severe, and he had to be euthanized.
“All the way through, you could see it and it was quite a scene, so I just took him right away and then we took him to Tufts in Grafton to see if surgery would help at all, but they said it was too extensive so we had to do the most humane thing and put him to sleep," Ingersoll said.
Blackstone Police were investigating the incident and partnered with an anonymous individual to provide a $500 reward to anyone who could help identify the suspect responsible. After receiving a number of tips, Blackstone PD executed a search warrant at the teen's home on Sunday at 10 a.m.
At the home, police found a bow and several arrows matching the one that struck the cat.
Police were called to Old Mendon Road for a report of cat that had been shot with an arrow around 7 p.m. Thursday, police said.
Police believe the arrow, described as "short," may have been fired from a crossbow.
"We have a 3-year-old and we also have another cat outside at the time, so thank God we got her in but she’s never going outside ever again," Ingersoll said.
His family lives in a busy area with lots of children and pets and he hopes someone comes forward.
"There’s a playground across the street with the bike path. It’s just kind of insane that someone like that is around," Ingersoll said.
Police are actively working to identify a suspect. An individual, who wishes to remain anonymous, heard the news and offered to provide a $500 cash reward to anyone who can help police identify and apprehend the person responsible.
“We want to thank this individual for partnering with Blackstone Police to offer this generous reward,” Acting Police Chief Gregory Gilmore said. “If anyone has information on the person involved in this incident, we ask that they call the department immediately.”
Anyone with information surrounding this incident is asked to call Blackstone Police at 508-883-1212.