PORTLAND, Ore. — Salem Police Department has charged two 17-year-old boys in connection to killing a cat outside of a home in early May.
Detectives identified two teens connected to the incident who were referred to the Marion County Juvenile Department on Tuesday. Both of them were charged with first-degree aggravated animal abuse. One of the teens was also charged with evidence tampering.
A surveillance camera outside of the home from May 10 showed a group of people, who appeared to be teenagers, noticing the cat, Vortex, on the corner of the street. A little while later, another person joined the group and pulled out what appeared to be some type of long-barreled gun, and then shot the cat.
'PEOPLE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER TRUST': Salem family's cat shot and killed outside home
"She was flopping on the ground, and then there were like five different kids who were ... around her with their phones taking videos, as if it was some entertainment," Jesse Steele, the owner of the cat, told KGW at the time.
Surveillance footage showed the group moving the cat's lifeless body to a neighbor's yard.
Detectives said the investigation remains ongoing, as the person who shot the cat has yet to be identified and the weapon involved has not been found.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Salem Police Tips Line at 503-588-8477.
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