PETITION TARGET: Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather and Master Officer Sampson Parker
A defenseless opossum was reportedly cornered against a fence, drenched in accelerant, and set on fire as three large figures hovered over him, laughing while the animal thrashed around in agony for more than a minute before collapsing, according to the New York Post. The heinous incident occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The following day, wildlife officials discovered the charred body of the opossum on the side of the road. It is unclear whether the animal survived the attack.
One of the individuals reportedly recorded the horrific incident and posted it to Facebook — turning the animal’s torment into a public spectacle. The video was reportedly shared widely and wildlife officials stated that the viral footage triggered several copycat videos.
A man has since been arrested in connection with the case and charged with instigating cruelty to animals, but there have been no reports indicating whether the other suspects have been apprehended or charged yet.
This innocent animal was set ablaze for the sake of entertainment, while their suffering was captured and shared online for views.
Sign our petition urging wildlife officials to investigate this case thoroughly to locate and charge the other individuals involved and for the District Attorney to prosecute these individuals to the fullest extent of the law — including mandating intensive psychological intervention and a lifelong ban on having animals.
