Police: Enraged man kills puppy

BROWNSVILLE — Police here arrested a teenager accused of brutally kicking and stabbing a puppy to death, officials said.

Mario Gasca, 18, and Jesus Javier Martinez, 17, were arrested Wednesday afternoon in the Southmost area and later charged with animal cruelty, said Brownsville police spokesman Sgt. Jimmy Manrrique.

On Thursday morning, a municipal judge set a $25,000 bond for Gasca and a $5,000 bond for Martinez.

Police officers arrived at the 2700 block of La Plaza Drive and met with a female who said Gasca had killed her puppy, Manrrique said. The woman told police that two female neighbors ages 12 and 17 had seen Gasca kill the animal.

“The witnesses said that Gasca had become angered when some neighbors accused him of burglarizing their home,” Manrrique said. “Gasca became so angry that when he saw the black puppy walk nearby, he got a running start and kicked it.”

The dog flew about 15 yards and began yelping as it crouched in pain, police said. Seconds later, Gasca got another running start and allegedly kicked the dog again.

“Gasca then got a pair of garden shears and stabbed the puppy in the midsection and then began stabbing the puppy’s mouth,” Manrrique said. Martinez laughed and allegedly encouraged Gasca to kill the animal.

After the attack, Gasca carried the puppy behind the house and dumped the carcass in a ditch, Manrrique said.

Gasca remains in custody at the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito. Martinez is free on bond.

Cruelty to non-livestock animals resulting in death is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in a state jail and an optional fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction. The charge can be upgraded to a third-degree felony — with a term of up to 10 years in prison — if the person has two prior animal cruelty convictions.

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Ildefonso Ortiz is a reporter for The Brownsville Herald.