A teenage girl has been arrested after allegedly stabbing three horses at a barrel racing event in Las Vegas. The incident occurred during the NBHA Professional's Choice Las Vegas Super Show at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center.
According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), officers responded to a report of an injured horse at a barn on South Las Vegas Boulevard at around 2:07 am on Saturday, 30 May. Upon arrival, they discovered three horses had been 'intentionally injured with a sharp object'.
Detectives identified the suspect as a teenage girl who had access to the barn. They believe she used a knife to inflict multiple injuries on the horses. While the injuries were not life-threatening, they prevented the horses from competing in the event.
The suspect was located at a nearby hotel and taken into custody. She was booked into Clark County Juvenile Hall on 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal, and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000.
The National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) released a statement confirming the incident was isolated and that the individual involved was an event competitor. They stated that all appropriate steps have been taken to ensure the well-being of the horses and that there is no ongoing threat.
