The shooting of nine cattle in Central Alberta has netted a youth 16 months probation and an order to pay $5,500 in restitution.
Five of the cattle — four cows and one calf — died from the shots, while four others, including two calves, were injured. All of the cattle were Texas longhorns.
They were found shot in the Stauffer area northeast of Caroline on Aug. 6, 2013. Police said they were all randomly shot with a stolen rifle while they were grazing.
The youth, who was 14 at the time of the incident, cannot be identified due to the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
He was sentenced on Monday in Rocky Mountain House provincial court.
He had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of killing cattle and one count each of careless use of a firearm, breaking and entering and stealing a firearm, and failing to comply with a sentence.