Tempe man accused of killing roommate’s pet rabbit, Pickles

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — A Tempe man is accused of killing his roommate’s domesticated pet rabbit while the roommate was in the process of moving out.

Antonio O’Connor was arrested Friday on suspicion of animal cruelty after the roommate returned to the residence to retrieve the rabbit and other belongings and found the rabbit’s carcass on the kitchen counter and O’Connor holding a kitchen knife, police said in court documents.

O’Connor told investigators he killed, skinned and cooked the rabbit, which was named Pickles, and intended to eat it, police said.

O’Connor also said the roommate was gone for several weeks and hadn’t cared for the rabbit during that time, police said.

Online court records didn’t indicate whether O’Connor had an attorney who could comment on his behalf about the allegations.