Officials: 8 horses shot and killed in the Heber-Overgaard area
Jan 12, 2020, 10:38 AM
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
HEBER-OVERGAARD, Ariz. — Eight horses were found fatally shot in the Heber-Overgaard area on Friday.
According to officials, the horses were found with gunshot wounds by Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests Law Enforcement investigators on the Black Mesa Ranger District along State Route 260 between Payson and Show Low.
Both Forest law enforcement and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the shootings.
Last February, a total of four dead horses were found inside the Heber Wild Horse Territory, bringing the number to 16 dead horses since October 2018..
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Forest officials say 10 of the dead horses had gunshot wounds, five were too decomposed to determine a cause of death, while another was likely hit by a car.
They say 12 of the 16 dead horses were found outside of the Hebert Horse Territory.
Authorities urged those to avoid the area as the investigation is ongoing.
The Forest Service urges anyone who encounters injured or deceased horses to contact the Black Mesa Ranger District immediately at 928-535-7300.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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