Deer Shot With Bow & Arrow In Southland Neighborhood; Criminal Charges Possibly Pending

LOS ANGELES, CA – State wildlife officials said Monday they will seek the prosecution of a man caught on camera shooting and killing a young deer with a bow and arrow near homes in Monrovia last week. The suspect has been interviewed and the Department of Fish and Wildlife are conducting an investigation, according to Andrew Hughan of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Officials aren't certain about what particular charges would be sought, but they're planning on filing a case with the L.A. County District Attorney.

"Potentially, (the) discharge of a weapon – a bow – in city limits for now, but we'll have to see what the investigation bears out," Hughan said.

Witnesses found the incident upsetting.

"I couldn't believe it. I'm like, 'You've got to be kidding me,"' Chuck Tapert, who caught the incident on his home surveillance camera, told CBS2. Somebody took a shot at a deer right in front of our house in a residential neighborhood?

The video shows an archer shooting a deer in a forested area next to Tapert's house, followed by the deer running away down the street. The deer then died.

Monrovia police said they were notified of the incident on Saturday morning, and that the suspect has since been identified and found, the Los Angeles Times reported. Police said it's illegal to shoot deer within city limits.

Several media outlets identified the suspect as Michael Rodriguez. He told CBS2 that he first shot the animal in the forest, but the buck didn't die because he hit it near its spine. He followed the deer into the residential neighborhood so he could kill it.

"I was following up a wounded animal and taking him out so he wasn't suffering anymore," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez told CBS2 L.A. that the deer is now in his freezer and will be used to feed his family.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Image via Pixabay