KEY WEST, Fla. — A man is under scrutiny after a video circulated on social media early Friday morning appeared to show him moments after a rooster was shot and wounded near Bayview Park, with authorities now reportedly preparing to serve an arrest warrant in the case. The suspect has been identified but has yet to publicly be identified.
The video, captured by Facebook member Oscar Galiano, was widely shared among Key West residents, and shows an unidentified older white male walking away from an injured rooster in the vicinity of the park in the early morning hours while holding what appears to be a high-powered airgun.
The footage does not show the shooting itself, but the man appears visibly agitated and annoyed with the bird as he leaves the scene. The suspect was alegedly also shooting roosting birds in the trees in the area.
The rooster is seen mortally injured but not not yet dead in the video.
The Key West Police Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were contacted regarding the incident, and an arrest warrant was prepared for the individual and issued Friday afternoon, although his identity is not yet publicly known and no arrests have been recorded on the Monroe County Sheriff’s website.
In Key West, free-roaming chickens are protected under local ordinances that prohibit harming or killing the birds. Violations can result in fines and additional penalties. They are — although considered to be a nuisance by many — much beloved by many residents and tourists alike.
At the state level, intentionally injuring an animal can constitute animal cruelty under Florida law, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $5,000 fine. More severe cases involving intentional acts that cause unnecessary suffering or death can be charged as a third-degree felony, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. It is not yet clear what charges could result from the man’s actions.
The apparent use of an airgun within city limits could also expose the suspect to additional violations related to discharging a weapon.
The video quickly drew condemnation on local social media pages, where residents described the incident as both illegal and inconsistent with the island’s long-standing tolerance of its free-roaming chicken population.
It was not immediately known whether the injured rooster received treatment or subsequently died.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
This is an evolving story. Watch this space.
