Authorities in Arizona have arrested 38-year-old Joseph Daniel Gibbons on charges of animal cruelty and killing livestock after he allegedly shot and killed 22 cattle, causing damages exceeding $65,000.
Gibbons was arrested on November 20 following a prolonged investigation by the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Department of Agriculture. The investigation began on August 22 when a local cattle ranch owner discovered five cattle dead in a pasture, each with gunshot wounds. The ranch owner notified both local law enforcement and state agriculture officials.
Detectives worked alongside state investigators, executing a search warrant at a home linked to Gibbons. During the search, they seized several weapons believed to have been used in the shootings. On October 31, the Arizona Department of Public Safety Crime Lab confirmed that a bullet recovered from one of the deceased cattle matched a weapon seized from the property.
A second search warrant was executed on November 20, and Gibbons was arrested for his alleged involvement in the cattle shootings. He faces two counts of animal cruelty and one count of killing livestock.
Authorities highlighted that Arizona is an open-range state, meaning property owners are responsible for keeping livestock off their land. However, they cannot resort to shooting the animals to prevent trespassing.
The investigation remains ongoing, with further details expected to emerge.
