Beloved bird dies after being pelted with rocks, California cops say. ‘Shock and anger’

A man accused of hurling rocks at a beloved egret, leading to its death, has been arrested, California sheriff’s officials reported.

Visitors to Lake Gregory near Crestline reported seeing men throwing rocks at ducks Oct. 23, KTLA reported.

After other visitors yelled at them to leave the birds alone, one of the men threw a rock at an egret, a wading bird, closely related to a heron. The man missed but hit the bird with a second rock, Kaylyn Donica, a witness, told the station. The bird fell over in the water.

“It was just shock and anger, like, ‘What ... is wrong with you?’” Donica told KTLA.

A second man broke the egret’s neck to end its suffering, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a Nov. 12 news release.

“It’s just made me absolutely sick to my stomach,” resident Shyann Swisher told KCBS. “This bird was a part of our community, his name was Arthur.”

Based on video and witness statements, deputies arrested Jeremey Jansen, 36, of Claremont on charges of animal cruelty and killing a non-game bird, deputies said.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call Deputy Ian Buchowiecki or Deputy Omar Romero-Rios at 909-336-0600.

Lake Gregory is about a 15-mile drive north from San Bernardino.

This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 8:44 AM with the headline "Beloved bird dies after being pelted with rocks, California cops say. ‘Shock and anger’."