An 11-year-old boy from Mississippi has been accused of beating an inoffensive, leashed, and defenseless dog to death with sticks. The dog, named Chico, only weighed 3 lbs, and his death leaves a family devastated and a community enraged with the senseless alleged actions of who Chico's owner describes as a "psycho kid."
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According to the Petal Police Department, and reported by PEOPLE, the violent incident took place on Monday. March 17. They arrived at the scene to find Chico dead, still on a leash in his owner's yard, as per Detective Daniel Klem.
An individual referred to as "a concerned citizen" provided police with a video of the incident, showing the boy allegedly beating the dog with a stick. The video helped police identify the boy, who was later found by police. The unidentified minor, who is not a resident of the neighborhood, was visiting his grandmother at the time. He was found in the scene's vicinity.
Detective Klem told PEOPLE that the boy was charged with aggravated animal cruelty. The boy's grandmother was charged with contributing to the delinquency or neglect of a child. The boy was arrested and then released while the grandmother was only charged and scheduled to appear in court.
A Heartbreaking Goodbye
In a heartbreaking
Facebook post, Timber Roberts, Chico's owner, shared his heartbreaking and devastation following Chico's senseless death. He revealed that Chico was alongside his dog sister outside his home. According to Roberts, the 11-year-old then entered the scene with sticks he had gathered elsewhere."The sticks that were collected were the sticks he brutally beat my 3lbs dog with killing him," Roberts wrote. "He couldn't defend himself or go anywhere to get away from this psycho kid that beat him."
Furthermore, Roberts claimed that the boy was heading to one neighbor's house and was determined to beat another dog. However, he was stopped in time.
"My family and I are very sad and miss him so much," Roberts added. "His sister Romie seems to know and is not the same now she does not have him. No animal deserves to pass this way."
A petition has been started by the Roberts family to strengthen Mississippi's animal cruelty laws. In particular, they expressed their disbelief and outrage after the boy's grandmother was only charged with a misdemeanor.
This is so sad. I am sorry that this family lost their little boy. Did the dog die as well?