A 17-year-old girl has been arrested after three horses were allegedly stabbed during a barrel racing event at South Point Casino in Las Vegas. Police responded to reports of an injured horse on Saturday morning and discovered that three horses had suffered wounds from a sharp object.
Investigators identified the teen, who had access to the barn, as a suspect. She now faces 12 counts related to animal cruelty and three felony counts of property destruction exceeding $5,000.
The horses received medical treatment and are expected to recover, though they will be unable to compete for the time being. The National Barrel Horse Association described the incident as isolated, stating that the suspect was an event competitor who has since been removed and turned over to authorities.
Officials confirmed there is no ongoing threat and continue to investigate the disturbing case.