Woodbridge teens accused of mowing down geese in road, and filming it

• Two boys, students at Colonia High School, are accused of killing Canada geese
• One boy allegedly drove over the geese in the street while the other videotaped the incident
• The video was shared on social media

WOODBRIDGE – Two teenaged boys, students at Colonia High School, are facing charges connected to allegedly running over a family of Canada geese last month, killing at least one.

The charges, filed by the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New Brunswick, accuse the 17-year-olds of intentionally killing the animals.

According to the NJSPCA, around June 8, the boys, both juniors, allegedly made a plan to lure a family of geese into the street. One of teenagers then drove his Ford Explorer down the street, running over the geese, while the other videotaped the incident, the NJSPCA says..

At least one goose was found dead on Dorset Drive, around the corner from the 300 block of New Dover Road where the attack occurred.

The vehicle used to run down the geese was apparently in the school parking lot with goose feathers embedded into the front license plate, grill and bumper, according to the NJSPCA.

The boys videotaped the event and uploaded it on the social media website Snapchat and spread it around school. The NJSPCA was alerted to the video by concerned citizens.

Video and stills of the incident were released by the NJSPCA. The video appears to show the vehicle traveling fast as it strikes the geese.

Following an investigation, the two boys were found and allegedly admitted to their involvement, according to the NJSPCA. The boys were questioned with their parents' permission.

The boys were charged with third-degree animal abuse filed through the Woodbridge Police Department's juvenile bureau. The case is expected to be referred to family court because of the age of the boys whose identities are not being released.

According to the NJSPCA, state law mandates under Title 4 that "the court shall order the juvenile to receive mental health counseling by a licensed psychologist or therapist."

The investigation was a joint operation with the NJSPCA, Woodbridge police and the Woodbridge Animal Control division.

Additional charges may be filed against others involved in the incident, according to the NJSPCA.

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335: srussell@mycentraljersey.com