A group of Westchester residents say they are surprised as someone continues to shoot crows at the elm trees in their neighborhood. Dozens have died, and people and pets are afraid that if the crow murderers don’t stop, people and pets could be harmed.
On Saturday morning, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to an appeal for animal cruelty in the 8300 block of Chase Avenue in Westchester, finding multiple dead birds.
Residents who live nearby say these killings have been going on for several years and believe that the perpetrators are using airsoft or pellet guns. LAPD officials couldn’t find evidence of the shot fired when they answered a call at 7am on Saturday, a spokesman said.
“Initially, the shootings were a few months away, but recently it’s escalated,” said resident Brenna Lenoir. “It always follows the same pattern: you can hear pop, pop, pop, or hear gun fire, crows attack and crows go wild.”
Lenoir estimates that 100 birds, including at least two Hawks, were killed. Killing a hawk is a federal crime punishable by a fine of up to $15,000.
“Everyone hates that,” she said. “It’s awful to see these animals being shot with guns.”
Due to the permanent killing, the people who live nearby live.
“It’s not like an active shooter with a gun shooting people dead, but it still scares me,” said resident Diana George. “I’ve been walking my dog and I can hear a bullet squeal just beside my head.
George said the incident has affected the quality of life in the neighborhood. It’s a safe and close community where otherwise kids love to play on the streets.
“I don’t know when he’s going to attack,” she said of the shooter. “It’s scary.”
Resident Marco Vidaris is also worried about the children in the neighborhood, and the assailant once interrupted the child’s birthday party and said he had caused the bird to fall from the sky while the children were playing in the front yard.
“It’s more than creepy,” he said. “There are a lot of young boys and girls on our streets. God is forbidden, that something may bounce off and hit them, or that one of us, or one of our dogs.”
Lenoir said one of the crows who targeted the latest rampage was injured but not killed. She transported the bird to the California Wildlife Center in Calabasas. There she hopes it will recover completely.
One crow was injured, but not killed in the latest attack on Westchester birds. Neighbors said she took it to rescue the animals.
(Brenna Lenoir)
“I love crows. I think they’re such smart animals,” she said. “I’m dying to know if that sweet little crow made it.”
All three neighbors said they were grateful that LAPD responded to the incident over the weekend. They are working with a group of residents involved to set up cameras to monitor the area around the trees.
“I think the neighborhoods are starting to get together to see what we can do to arrest this person,” George said. “We want to unite and eliminate this as soon as possible.”
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