AUSTIN (KXAN) — Two horses were shot and killed Sunday by an unknown person in northeast Travis County.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office was called to a property in the 10400 block of Springdale Rd., near Cameron Road, around 12:15 p.m. and again at 8:08 p.m. for the two incidents.

The horses belonged to two different owners who use the same property. Authorities say they do not have a suspect in the case and have not investigated an attack on animals in this area before.

One of the owners, Michelle O’Brien, said she received a call Sunday evening saying her 16-year-old mare had been shot twice in the neck and chest.

“[I’m] devastated. I’ve had her since the day she was born,” O’Brien said Monday. She hopes necropsies of the horses will help deputies find the person responsible.

Another horse, Henry, was shot four times.

“Kind of at a loss for words. You don’t expect it and you don’t think it’s going to happen,” said Ramone Soto, Henry’s owner. “He was my favorite out of all of them.

Soto says Henry always approached strangers, and suspects Henry walked right up to the person that killed him.

While he and his wife Carmen are grieving, they’re grateful their other horse Thunder was unharmed.

“By nature, horses are herd animals and they prefer to have companionship – so he may be a little bit feeling, where’s my partner?” said Ramone.

O’Brien says the owner of the property passed away last week.

Other neighbors say the killings have left an open would in the quiet community.

“I sure hope if someone shot them for fun, they catch them and put a stop to it — it’s sad,” said Michael Mills, who already fears for the safety of his livestock. “It would break my heart, these are like my kids almost. I hope that never happens.”

Mills says it’s not uncommon for people to shoot off rounds at night in the neighborhood, but says he’s never heard of anyone targeting horses or cattle.

The sheriff’s department is asking anyone with information on the shootings to call CrimeStoppers or reach their detectives directly at 512-854-7408.