A Live Oak man who claimed a cat in his care simply ran away faces a felony animal cruelty charge after Florida deputies uncovered evidence that he shot and killed the animal with a pellet gun.
Joshua Carl Brooks, 40, was arrested on May 31, 2026, by the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators charged him with one count of aggravated animal cruelty following a multi-month investigation into the death of the domestic cat.
The case began after sheriff’s deputies received a tip that the cat, which had been explicitly entrusted to Brooks, was intentionally killed. According to authorities, the incident took place in January 2026.
Deputies interviewed multiple witnesses who gave consistent, matching accounts of the event, all alleging that Brooks shot the pet with a pellet gun. Investigators later searched the residence, where they uncovered physical evidence supporting the witnesses’ claims. The sheriff’s office also secured sworn, written statements from those witnesses.
When confronted by investigators, Brooks denied hurting the animal, telling deputies that the cat had run away. However, officials stated that the combination of witness testimony, physical evidence, and the overall investigation established clear probable cause for his arrest.
Brooks was booked into the Suwannee County Jail.
Following the arrest, the agency reiterated its stance on animal safety. “Sheriff Sam St. John and the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office take allegations of animal abuse seriously and remain committed to thoroughly investigating reports of cruelty and holding offenders accountable under Florida law,” the office said in a statement.
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