5 Animals Found Shot at Berkeley Marina

BERKELEY, CA - Berkeley police said today they are investigating a case of animal cruelty in which raccoons and other animals were found shot with pellets at the Berkeley Marina over the weekend.

Officers responded at 12:48 p.m. Saturday to the animal cruelty case reported in the 100 block of Seawall Drive. When they arrived, they talked to a groundskeeper with the city of Berkeley who reported finding the animals -- a feral cat, an opossum and three raccoons. Three of the animals were dead and two had some sort of injury, police said. The two animals still alive were taken to the Berkeley Animal Shelter but one died shortly after it arrived there.

The last remaining animal was later euthanized, according to police.

Scans of the animals found that at least three had been shot by some sort of pellet gun, with the projectiles still present in their bodies, police said.

Officers documented the likely places where the animals were shot and searched the area for possible witnesses.

Anyone who may have information about the case is asked to call Berkeley police at (510) 981-5900.

--Bay City News; Image via WikiMedia Commons