Two 19-year-olds were charged with felony animal cruelty after allegedly shooting and killing a squirrel with an air-powered rifle.

Police say a neighbor saw Mauro of Clearwater and Morgan of Largo shooting at squirrels. A police officer responding to the call then saw one of them shoot a squirrel.

        (Photo's of Mauro and Morgan courtesy of the Largo Police Department)

Morgan was charged with cruelty to animals and Mauro was charged with drug paraphernalia possession and trespassing in addition to cruelty to animals. The drug charge was for allegedly possessing a marijuana pipe and the trespassing charge was for allegedly jumping over a neighbor’s fence to retrieve the dead squirrel.

According to the Largo Police Department, it is illegal to intentionally injure, kill or hunt squirrels in Pinellas County.

Reference:

St. Petersburg Times

Largo Police Department