Gonzales students’ livestock stabbed to death, no arrests

By Christian Balderas

Click here for updates on this story

    GONZALES, California (KSBW) — Students in the nonprofit agriculture program 4H, which teaches youth ages 9-19 how to raise livestock, found their animals fatally wounded Saturday morning.

Four animals were stabbed in the head and face; two lambs were killed, and one lamb and piglet are recovering from the attack.

The piglet is seemingly in good health with a minor gash to the head, while the sheep sustained a broken leg.

Police are investigating the gruesome attack captured on surveillance footage, which shows a male suspect, according to the program’s sheep leader, Erin Askew.

“The first thing that went through my mind was I was thankful our kids weren’t down here at the time. You know, we had no idea what time this person came down here. So my first thought is our kids, our children. We have ages 9-19 kids down here, and sometimes they’re down here early in the morning to feed, and they come at night,” Askew said.

About 24 animals are kept on a lot behind Gonzales High School’s stadium, shared with GHS’s Future Farmers of America program.

Thanks to community donations, the students were able to purchase three new lambs at a discounted price.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.