This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

An individual identified in a video as having drop-kicked a puppy to death to entertain his friends in Mississippi has finally had the misdemeanor animal cruelty charge amended to a felony. Urge the district attorney to prosecute this case to the fullest extent.

We were alerted about the Facebook post of a puppy in a sitting position being picked up and punted high into the air from the tailgate of a pickup by a man and slamming lifelessly onto the ground while the man's friends laughed and cheered at the macabre crime.

Holmes County Sheriff Willie Marsh identified Drone Da-Quan Brown as the person who “punted” the weeks-old puppy, and posted a video captioned with “FELLAS!! This How We Kickin B I T C H E S to Da Curve [Sic] All 2023.” Sheriff Marsh reported having difficulty getting the Holmes County Justice Court judges to sign an arrest warrant for him.

On March 1, 2023, our Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner Doll Stanley met with Chief Deputy Roosevelt March at the Sheriff's Department beside the county jail, who advised Stanley that Brown was in jail for murder and animal cruelty.

Regional animal protectionists have found Holmes County officials to be chronically resistant to aiding with the prosecution of animal cruelty cases. Stanley and a regional veterinarian friend have worked side by side addressing cruelty cases in the region. The veterinarian called Stanley shortly after she left the courthouse to tell her Brown was arrested on a misdemeanor charge because the puppy could not be recovered for evidence. However, the law doesn't require an animal to die for a felony cruelty charge.

The charge has since been amended to a felony, and he will face the grand jury.

Letter to decision maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Puppy Killer Must be Prosecuted

I’m writing to thank your office for amending a misdemeanor charge to a felony in the case of a puppy who was drop-kicked to their death, which was recorded and shared on social media, and urge you to prosecute this case to the fullest extent.

Sheriff Willie Marsh identified the individual alleged to have committed this crime that was captured on video as Drone Da-Quan Brown. Sheriff Marsh said he had great difficulty getting an arrest warrant for Brown from the Holmes County Justice Court judges.

On March 1, 2023, Chief Deputy Roosevelt March confirmed Brown was in jail for murder and animal cruelty. Sheriff Marsh revealed that Brown was arrested on a misdemeanor charge, not the felony he should have been charged with.

I’m glad to hear the charge was amended and hope to applaud your intervention on behalf of the citizens who will be spared from harm by the prosecution and conviction of Brown.  Under the felony section of MS 97-41-16 (2)(b), Brown would have mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment. He should not be allowed around animals again either. His murder charge is indicative that he likely has little respect for the lives of others.

I will be following this case through the grand jury, and hope to see justice for a helpless puppy that he compared to “Kickin B I T C H E S to Da Curve [Sic].”

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.