Police looking for Post Oak cat killer

Madison Police are looking to identify suspects in the unlawful shooting of a cat in a neighborhood last week.

Capt. Kevin Newman said that the Madison Police Department has received information regarding a feline that had been shot with a .22 caliber firearm or pellet gun in the Post Oak neighborhood of Madison. MPD made a public announcement reporting the incident on March 9.

“We have not received any tips or further information or leads,” Newman said. “There have been no other incidents of this nature that we are aware of. We’re still seeking information that may be out there.”  Newman said that this type of cruelty is a felony in the state of Mississippi and “will not be tolerated.” 

A reward is being offered for information that may lead to an arrest.

Ashley Harris said that they had received similar reports in her neighborhood a few years back.

“We had one of these a-holes in my neighborhood a few years ago,” Harris said in a comment on the MPD press release posted on social media. “Whoever it was shot several cats and a dog also with a .22. Glad to see the Madison Police Department taking it seriously.”

The original social media post has seen an outpouring of attention from the community. 

“Thank you for protecting our four-footed citizens too,” Debbie Varner Hillary said.

Discussions include when animal cruelty became a felony in the state. Gov. Tate Reeves signed Senate Bill No. 2658 into law in July 2020.

The law was introduced by Sen. Angela Hill, a Republican from Picayune, and makes it so that animal abusers will be charged with a felony on their first offense of aggravated cruelty.

If anyone has info about the incident they are asked to call the Madison Police Department at (601) 856-6111.