Felony charges in squirrel killing

 LARGO - Two 19-year-olds were charged with felony animal cruelty Sunday after allegedly shooting and killing a squirrel with an air-powered rifle.

Police say a neighbor saw Craig Mauro (below left) of Clearwater and Thomas Morgan (below right) of Largo shooting at squirrels Sunday. A police officer responding to the call then saw one of them shoot a squirrel.

Morgan was charged with cruelty to animals and Mauro was charged with drug paraphernalia possession and trespassing in addition to cruelty to animals. The drug charge was for allegedly possesing a marijuana pipe and the trespassing charge was for allegedly jumping over a neighbor’s fence to retrieve the dead squirrel.

According to the Largo Police Department, it is illegal to intentionally injure, kill or hunt squirrels in Pinellas County.

Craig Mauro (left) and Thomas Morgan (right) were charged with cruelty to animals for shooting and killing a squirrel on Sunday.