Foster Farms chicken massacre: 4 teens arrested

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Thursday, October 2, 2014
Gabriel Quintero, 18, was one of four suspects arrested in connection to a burglary and animal abuse case at a Foster Farms facility in Fresno County.
Gabriel Quintero, 18, was one of four suspects arrested in connection to a burglary and animal abuse case at a Foster Farms facility in Fresno County.
KABC

FRESNO, Calif. (KABC) -- Four people have been arrested in connection to the killing of nearly 1,000 chickens at a Valley Foster Farms facility.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Office says 18-year-old Gabriel Quintero was arrested on Wednesday near Lemoore, along with three underage suspects.

Authorities say the four suspects broke into a Foster Farms facility near Caruthers last week by pulling back a portion of a wall and entering one of the chicken sheds. They allegedly used a golf club and another similar type instrument to kill 920 birds.

Detectives say media coverage of the incident generated tips that helped lead to the arrests.

Quintero was booked into the Fresno County Jail and faces charges of burglary and animal cruelty. The three underage suspects were taken to the Fresno Juvenile Justice Center on similar charges.

KFSN-TV contributed to this report.