Authorities in Mississippi have charged an 11-year-old boy for allegedly killing a small dog while it was on a leash in its owner’s yard.
On March 17, police in Petal received calls about a person hitting a dog with a stick. When officers arrived, they found the dog deceased, still attached to its leash.
Detective Daniel Klem from the Petal Police Department reported that officers reviewed a video taken by a concerned resident. The video reportedly showed the boy assaulting the dog, which helped investigators identify him.
The suspect, said to be an 11-year-old who was visiting his grandmother, was located near the scene of the incident. He does not live in the neighborhood where the event took place.
The dog, a tiny 3-pound pup named “Chico,” was owned by Timber Roberts. In a heartfelt post online, Roberts expressed grief, stating that Chico could not protect himself from the boy’s attack. “He couldn’t defend himself or get away from this kid,” he wrote, adding that his family misses Chico deeply.
Roberts also mentioned his sister, Romie, who is unsettled by what happened. The family is now advocating for stronger animal cruelty laws in Mississippi through a petition to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
Following the incident, the boy was released from custody. His grandmother faces charges related to neglect and will appear in court. The boy has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty, but no details regarding their legal representation or court appearances have been disclosed at this time.
