Recent weeks have seen a number of thefts at a pet store in New Jersey, including one where the proprietor was shot in the face with a crossbow arrow and another where an expensive bird was stolen from the establishment.
Raymond M. Carey, 53, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, was detained by authorities on Tuesday on charges of attempted murder after he allegedly used a crossbow to shoot the business owner in the face, according to a statement from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
Katarina Rukavishnikova, proprietor of Birds by Joe 2 on Route 46 in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, has been identified as the victim.
“Birds By Joe 2 is temporarily closed…. Katarina is recovering and investigations are underway,” the pet store wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
Just before six o’clock on Monday, police received a 911 call reporting that a woman was gravely hurt at her pet store.
Responding police found that the suspect had driven away from the site after shooting the woman in the face with a crossbow arrow.
The woman managed to disarm the assailant after being shot and fled to a nearby establishment for assistance. According to authorities, the woman received hospital treatment for “serious injuries.”
Detectives from the Saddle Brook Police Department and the Major Crimes Unit of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office conducted a manhunt and investigation for the suspect with help from the FBI and a number of other local agencies.
The criminal complaint states that officers identified the culprit through license plate readers, video surveillance, and witness interviews.
Around 1 p.m. on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after the attack, Carey was taken into custody in Pine Beach, New Jersey. He is awaiting his initial court appearance on charges of first-degree attempted murder, third-degree unauthorized possession of a firearm, and fourth-degree obstruction of the administration of law.
The proprietor of Birds By Joe 2 had been the victim of other crimes in the last few weeks.
Rukavishnikova told NJ Advance Media that the two thefts were unrelated, although police said a thief took a $7,000 African grey parrot from the store on January 23.
He is a regular client. Regarding the crossbow attack, Rukavishnikova told the local source, He shot me without any warning. He didn’t say anything.
Birds By Joe 2 used security cameras to record the incident and shared images of the stolen parrot on social media. The company posted on Instagram that the bird had been retrieved by authorities earlier this month.
Caught on Camera: Amazon Delivery Driver Runs Over Woman in Terrifying Hit-and-Run
“We have received our African Grey back! “We appreciate everyone who has reached out, shared our posts, and searched online,” Birds By Joe 2 wrote in a post.
According to Saddle Brook police, a warrant has been issued for the arrest of 24-year-old Onyx Calderon of Paterson for the theft of a parrot.
Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office stated, “Detectives have concluded that the prior theft and the crossbow incident yesterday are unrelated based on the results of this investigation.”
Detroit Man Caught in $900K Unemployment Fraud Scheme Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison
“Katarina has been a pillar of love and support for countless birds, dedicating her time to giving them the care, respect, and homes they deserve,” wrote customers on a GoFundMe page created to aid the store owner’s recuperation.
“Katarina was the victim of two crimes, the most recent one enduring an attack at her store, leaving her injured and traumatized. Despite facing these challenges, she continues to pour her heart into caring for her beloved birds.”
Leave a Comment