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Dead Peacocks Found in Riverview

Peacock | Animals | Birds

Hillsborough deputies are investigating whether the peacocks died of animal abuse.

RIVERVIEW – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a possible case of animal cruelty in a Riverview neighborhood.

A resident in the Boyette Springs neighborhood of Riverview filed a report on Friday (March 22), reporting that at least two neighborhood peacocks had been found dead Wednesday (March 20) in the 12400 block of Windswept Avenue. Several domesticated peacocks roam the area, and neighbors said they  believe someone may have been targeting the birds for sometime, shooting them with a pellet gun.

A witness reported seeing a black 4-door Ford F-150 filled with four teenagers  in the area just before finding the dead birds. The truck had black rims, a busted tail light and a Costa sticker in the back window. Deputies said two boys were seen riding in the bed of the truck holding pellet guns.

Detectives are searching for surveillance video footage from  area residents. The culprit(s) will face felony animal cruelty and criminal mischief charges, according to deputies.

The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind residents that social media is not an appropriate tool to report a crime. The best way to report an incident is to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200 to reach a deputy and file a formal report.

Anyone with information in reference to this incident is also asked to call the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247-8200. In order to be eligible for a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at crimestopperstb.com or send a mobile tip using the department’s P3 Tips Mobile application, which is a free download for iPhones, iPads and Droids. You must call Crime Stoppers first to be eligible for a reward.

Photo of peacock from Tampa Bay Reporter files.

Hillsborough Sheriff | Peacocks | Animal Abuse | Animal Cruelty | Crime | Tampabay News

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