After a spate of peafowl killings abruptly ended when a suspect’s sketch was released last summer, two more birds were found shot dead recently, the spcaLA announced Wednesday.

Since the killings began in June 2012, 53 peafowl have been found dead or injured in Rolling Hills Estates, which prompted an ongoing investigation by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles.

The latest birds were the first reported killings in several months. They were found dead near Eastvale Road and Bolan Lane on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

The killings and maimings alarmed residents and animal activists when they began occurring with regularity. One witness told investigators that a silver, four-door Mercedes-Benz was in the vicinity of one of the killings last year. The motorist was described as white, 50 to 60 years old and wearing aviator-style sunglasses.

But when the sketch of the suspect went out in July, the killings suddenly stopped, according to spcaLA officials.

Until now.

The most recently killed birds were found in roughly the same area where the suspect fired an unknown type pellet gun, killing a peacock in July 2014.

If convicted, the perpetrator faces possible felony animal cruelty charges and up to three years in prison, along with up to $20,000 in fines.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the director of spcaLA Animal Protection Services, Lt. Cesar Perea, at 323-730-5300, Ext. 272.

Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call the spcaLA Animal Cruelty Tipline at 1-800-540-7722 or report online at www.spcaLA.com.

Peafowl have long been an attractive nuisance on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, with recent census results indicating that the peafowl in four Rancho Palos Verdes neighborhoods more than doubled from June to October 2014.

Trapping in that city is set to begin later this month.

While the birds are beautiful and have legions of fans, they also can become an annoyance to homeowners with their loud cries and damage they cause to roofs.