• One adult and three juveniles held in Fresno • 920 birds beaten to death at central California farm

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Deputies in central California have arrested four people – one adult and three juveniles – who are suspected of breaking into a Foster Farms chicken ranch and killing more than 900 birds with a golf club.

Fresno County sheriff’s officials acting on several tips on Wednesday tracked down 18-year-old Gabriel Quintero of Riverdale. Also taken into custody were two juvenile males, ages 15 and 17, from Caruthers, and a third juvenile male, age 17, from Lemoore. All have been booked on charges of burglary and felony cruelty to animals.

It was not immediately known if the suspects have attorneys.

Investigators say the suspects pulled back a fence on 20 September to gain access to a shed south of Fresno and massacred 920 chickens with a golf club and possibly another blunt instrument.