The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating a series of cat shootings, including the wounding of Zoe, a community cat found behind the Sunshine Flea Market in West Palm Beach. Zoe survived after a bullet shattered her front-left shoulder, but veterinarians amputated the leg, according to WPTV.
Furry Friends Humane, which is caring for Zoe, is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the suspect's identification. A video reportedly shows a person arriving on an e-bike and shooting toward cats near the flea market. Authorities have not publicly identified anyone and have warned people not to approach or confront the individual.
The investigation also includes a second cat found dead near the same area. A necropsy confirmed a gunshot wound, WPTV reported. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's Animal Crimes Unit is coordinating with Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, according to Boca Post.
What investigators are asking for
Investigators are seeking information that could identify the person seen in the video or connect that person to other shootings. Tips can be sent to the Sheriff's Office Animal Crimes Unit at [email protected]. The reward is an offer from Furry Friends Humane; it does not indicate that an arrest has been made or that investigators have publicly established who is responsible.
The shooting has also prompted concern among people who work near the flea market, where community cats live around the shopping complex. That concern is not proof that the suspect poses a threat to people, and the current investigation has not publicly established a motive or any connection to a human-targeted crime.
Florida’s animal-cruelty framework
If a suspect is identified, prosecutors would determine which charges the evidence supports. Under Florida Statute § 828.12, intentionally causing an animal's cruel death or excessive pain can constitute aggravated animal cruelty, a third-degree felony. The statute provides for penalties that can include imprisonment and fines, while the precise charges and sentence would depend on the facts proved in court.
Florida's 2025 Dexter's Law also added sentencing provisions for certain aggravated-animal-cruelty offenses involving intentional torture or torment. The Florida Senate's bill summary describes a 1.25 sentencing-point multiplier for qualifying offenses and the creation of a statewide registry for people convicted of aggravated animal cruelty.
That registry is now part of the state's public-facing enforcement landscape. According to CBS12, Florida's Dexter's Law database became publicly available on January 1, 2026, and lists people convicted of aggravated animal cruelty. The database does not establish anything about the unidentified person in the Palm Beach County case, who has not been convicted.
Zoe remains in foster care with Furry Friends Humane while she recovers. The investigation remains active, and authorities are asking anyone with relevant information about the shootings or the person shown in the video to contact the Sheriff's Office rather than intervene independently.
