Prosecutors seek to try teen accused of stabbing horses at barrel racing event as an adult

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) - Authorities in Las Vegas are seeking to move a case involving a teenage girl accused of stabbing several horses during a barrel racing event to adult court.

According to the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors are reviewing the case to determine what charges to file against the juvenile.

Authorities said the teen currently faces 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of property.

Police were notified of the reported horse stabbings early Saturday morning at the South Point hotel-casino, where a barrel racing competition was being held.

Three horses were found to be “intentionally injured with a sharp object,” investigators noted. The injuries were not considered life-threatening, but they were severe enough to prevent the horses from competing in the event.

Las Vegas police animal cruelty section announced the teenager’s arrest over the weekend. She was not immediately identified due to her being a minor and was booked into the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center.

The district attorney’s office said the next hearing in the case is scheduled for Thursday. A certification hearing will be set for a later date, when a judge will decide whether the case should proceed in the adult criminal justice system.