At least 10 seagulls are steamrolled by a vehicle in the parking lot of a Maryland shopping center after they were lured to the area with popcorn
- Police said at least 10 seagulls were killed outside a shopping center Saturday
- The birds had been lured to an area in the parking lot by pre-popped popcorn
- Authorities said suspect then ‘intentionally’ ran over the group of seagulls
- Police shared photos of a bird they managed to rescue from Maryland incident
- Authorities are still searching for the suspect who is wanted for animal cruelty
At least 10 seagulls were killed in a Maryland parking lot after a culprit lured them with popcorn and ran over them with a vehicle.
Officers from the Laurel Police Department said the incident occurred outside the Laurel Plaza Shopping Center in Laurel, Maryland, on Saturday.
Police were called to the area around 10.47am and found ‘a group of deceased seagulls all in extremely close proximity to one another’.
At least 10 seagulls were killed in a Maryland parking lot after a culprit lured them with popcorn and steamrolled the birds with a vehicle. Officers managed to rescue one seagull (left and right) and transport it to a wildlife rescue center when it had its wing repaired
Police were called to the area around 10.47am and found ‘a group of deceased seagulls all in extremely close proximity to one another’. An officer is seen holding the bird they managed to rescue from the incident
Officers soon learned that a suspect bought a bag of pre-popped popcorn from a nearby Dollar Tree. The suspect then emptied the bag of popcorn in the parking lot, ‘intentionally luring the group seagulls’ to the area.
Police said the person proceeded to run the seagulls over with their vehicle. The suspect then fled the scene. Authorities believe the incident occurred between 9am and 10.30am.
On Sunday morning, Laurel police shared photos of one of the seagulls that survived the horrific attack.
‘Despite yesterday’s senseless act of violence against animals, a glimmer of love and kindness shone through when Cpl Wilson rescued one of the injured birds and was able to get the bird to a wildlife rescue to try and repair it’s broken wing,’ the department wrote on Facebook.
Authorities are still searching for the suspect who is wanted for animal cruelty.
If you know anything about the incident, the person responsible or the vehicle involved contact the Laurel Police Department at 301-498-0092 or anonymous tips can be sent to LPDtips@laurel.md.us.
Authorities believe the incident occurred between 9am and 10.30am outside the Laurel Plaza Shopping Center (pictured) in Laurel, Maryland, on Saturday
Police said the suspect entered a nearby Dollar Tree (pictured), bought a bag of pre-popped popcorn, emptied the bag in the parking lot and ‘intentionally luring the group seagulls’ to the area