An employee at an animal shelter in Weatherford, Texas, is accused of mistreating and killing kittens at his job and may be linked to the recent increase in kitten deaths.

Gabriel Caswell, 21, was arrested last month after he was captured on surveillance video killing kittens at the Weatherford Animal Shelter, according to police.

The arrest came amid an investigation into an unexplained increase in kitten deaths at the shelter since June, the City of Weatherford said in a press release. The deaths were initially believed to be disease-related, but testing results on multiple specimens found no sign of disease.

Staff then installed more HVAC systems, ensured proper cleaning procedures were followed, reviewed the chemicals in all cleaning products, established new policies and closely tracked every missing or deceased animal.

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On July 14, 2023, a staff member at the shelter contacted the police after Caswell was seen mistreating a kitten to the point where it was unlikely to live. Caswell was confronted by staff members before officers arrived, and he fled the area. 

When officers reviewed video footage of the incident, they determined Caswell had committed a crime. Detectives began investigating and obtained a warrant for Caswell's arrest. 

Caswell was arrested within a few hours for cruelty to animals but was later released from jail.

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Detectives reviewed additional video footage and obtained another warrant for Caswell for cruelty to animals on July 28. Caswell was arrested again the following day.

Additional video footage is still being reviewed for other possible incidents. Officials do not know at this time how many animal deaths Caswell may be responsible for.

"Our shelter staff and volunteers take great pride in the love and care provided to the animals that visit our shelter," the city said in its press release. "For something like this to happen is unfathomable, and we are heartbroken by the harm caused. This case is still being investigated, and the Shelter is partnering with the Police Department as the City continues to seek justice for all of Caswell’s actions."

Fox News host Sean Hannity reacts to the Department of Justice naming David Weiss as special counsel in the Hunter Biden investigation, calling it a new strategy to protect President Joe Biden. 

SEAN HANNITY: We begin with a ton of breaking news from the swamp all day in Washington. A pathetic new sleight of hand from Biden's clearly weaponized and politicized DOJ as evidence of corruption against Joe Biden grows with each passing day. Today, earlier, the attorney general, Merrick Garland, just rolled out a new strategy to help shield the big guy in the entire Biden family operation, but especially Joe Biden, because today he announced the appointment of a special counsel to investigate possible Hunter Biden crimes. But, of course, he made no mention of President Joe Biden. Instead of appointing someone from outside of the government to lead this investigation, as by law, by the way, as recommended under Regulation 28 C.F.R. 600.3., thanks to Gregg Jarrett… Merrick Garland waved his magic wand and he just promoted David Weiss. 

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…

That is the same federal prosecutor, the one who has been slow walking the criminal probe into Hunter Biden for several years. He's the guy that allowed the statute of limitations to expire on multiple major felonies before, of course, then trying to put together that sweetheart, you know, little deal with Hunter, no jail time and tie it up with a neat little bow and, you know, cover it all up, a sweetheart deal that no one else would get. That, of course, rejected by the federal judge who thankfully in Delaware, actually read the fine print in this.

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