The Blaine County Sheriff’s department has determined that three
17-year-old juveniles were responsible for the shooting of four cattle on grazing
allotments in Ohio Gulch last week.
Blaine County Sheriff Walt Femling said the juveniles, whose names he
didn’t disclose, were released into the custody of their parents.
Femling said the 17-year-olds were shooting 22-caliber rifles in the area
when "it got away from them a little bit as far as what they were shooting at."
Femling said the case will now be forwarded to the Blaine County
prosecutor who will determine what charges will be filed against the juveniles.
Prior to last week’s incident, six Black Angus cattle were shot and
killed on grazing allotments along Picabo Desert Road in the south part of the county.
Since a small caliber rifle was used in both incidences, law enforcement
officials suspected that the shootings were related.
However, Femling said the three juveniles were not suspected in the south
county shootings and that the investigation was still active.
