The Los Angeles Police Department’s Animal Cruelty Task Force was investigating the discovery Saturday of a dead horse on a street near Sylmar.
A caller to the LAPD’s Foothill Division about 10:30 a.m. reported the deceased animal was lying on the pavement in the 11700 block of Kagel Canyon Road, said Officer Mike Lopez of the agency’s Media Relations Section. The location is at the end of a cul-de-sac in the Kagel Canyon community, in the foothills north of the 210 Freeway.
There were conflicting reports of the horse’s injuries. LAPD Detective Eric Bixler told KTLA the animal had apparently been shot and was found with its tail tied to a pole. Officers at the scene said it was unclear whether the horse had been beaten or shot.
The animal was being removed from the scene about 7:30 p.m. It was expected to be transported to San Bernardino, where a veterinarian will perform a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
“We do have information that will eventually lead to an arrest, by evidence that was left at the location,” Bixler said. He declined to describe that evidence.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Detective Reyes of the LAPD at 213-486-0450.