Suspects who broke into a commercial poultry farm in central California beat more than 900 chickens to death, most of them with a golf club, according to The Associated Press.
The Fresno County Sheriff's Office said the suspects pulled back part of the fence to enter the Foster Farms facility, and "once inside, the suspects used a golf club, and possibly another similar type instrument, to slaughter the birds," adding that 920 chickens were killed.
The Livingston, California-based Foster Farms said it was "an unconscionable act of animal cruelty" that appears to be a random act of violence, AP reported.
The incident happened on Sept. 20, but only came to light on Tuesday after the sheriff's office called for the public's help in identifying those behind the crime.
Fresno County sheriff's deputies arrived at the facility in Caruthers, less than 20 miles south of Fresno, on Sept. 20 and found hundreds of birds slaughtered, officials said Tuesday.
"Psychopathic behavior. It's sick behavior," Deputy Chris Curtice told KPIX-TV, according to the AP. "You can't do that much damage to animals and not have blood on your clothing. We want to find out who they are and get them off the street."
"Foster Farms is working with local law enforcement ... and is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the persons responsible," Foster Farms said in a statement. "It is the express policy of Foster Farms to treat its birds humanely and with compassion. Any intentional act to the contrary is unacceptable."
