PETA offers $5K reward to find minivan driver who brutally beat dog to death

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 in an effort to catch a driver in a minivan who brutally beat a small dog to death in Los Angeles.

A witness saw the horrific incident unfold on May 14. A small dog jumped out of a minivan along the 1600 block of East First Street around 1:30 p.m.

The driver chased after the dog, got of the car, punched the small terrier mix and slammed it against the sidewalk repeatedly until the animal died, the witness said.

The witness was able to snap a photo of the minivan.

PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the culprit.

The suspect was described as a white male, between 50 and 60 years old, weighing around 280 pounds, between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall, with balding, gray hair.

Police said the minivan appears to be a 1996 to 2000 Dodge Caravan. The silver or gray vehicle has a bike rack and appears to have an off-color rear bumper, authorities said.

If you have any information about this case, you're urged to call LAPD at (877) LAPD-24-7 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.