Neighbors at the Mitchell Houses in Mott Haven say the family cat they knew as Shadow is gone, and prosecutors allege it is because a resident hurled the animal out of a 15th-floor window, killing the cat on the pavement below.
Bronx prosecutors have indicted 32-year-old Miguel Perez on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and torturing and injuring animals, according to the New York Daily News. The outlet reports that Perez was allegedly upset after the cat scratched him on March 4 and that he is expected back in court to answer the charges.
What Prosecutors Say
"Allegedly, in a fit of rage, this defendant tossed the family’s cat out of his apartment window, causing the animal’s death," Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said, according to the New York Daily News. Prosecutors say the indictment follows an investigation by the Bronx DA's office and local NYPD units.
Charges and Legal Context
Perez was indicted on aggravated cruelty to animals and torturing and injuring animals, offenses that are set out in New York's Agriculture and Markets laws. Aggravated cruelty is a felony that covers intentionally killing or causing serious physical injury to a companion animal and defines "aggravated cruelty" as conduct intended to cause extreme physical pain or carried out in an especially depraved or sadistic manner. As outlined by the New York State Senate, the statute spells out the elements prosecutors must prove.
A Pattern Prosecutors Have Pursued
The Bronx District Attorney's office has brought other high-profile animal cruelty cases in recent months. In January, prosecutors indicted a separate Bronx defendant after graphic social media posts prompted an investigation and charges, a case widely covered by local outlets such as the New York Post.
What’s Next
The indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of guilt. Perez is expected to return to Bronx court to answer the charges, and the case remains pending as prosecutors continue preparing their case.
