A 21-year-old Alabama man has been accused of ruthlessly throwing out five kittens from his car while driving on an interstate. Tragically, all five kittens were killed after being struck by vehicles on the busy highway, police said.

The Homewood Police Department arrested Thomas Ronald Liccione, from Birmingham, Alabama, after multiple witnesses reported seeing him allegedly toss out the kittens from his moving car on Interstate 65 near Lakeshore Drive around 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30.

The police department reportedly arrived at the scene after multiple 911 calls reporting the cruel incident. Officers located Liccione’s vehicle after speaking with multiple motorcyclists and witnesses who witnessed the incident. The accused was then detained and booked into Jefferson County Jail.

Liccione was charged with aggravated cruelty to animals. Authorities set his bond at $15,000.

 

According to the Daily Mail, aggravated animal cruelty is considered a Class C felony in Alabama. It is defined as when a person intentionally tortures or harms an animal, leading to serious injury or even death.

A person charged with aggravated animal cruelty can be penalized with one to 10 years in prison, along with hefty fines of up to $15,000.

The records reveal that Liccione was booked at 5 p.m. on Saturday and released an hour later after posting bond.

The Homewood Police Department released a statement on Facebook that said, “Homewood officers spoke to multiple witnesses who reported seeing the driver of the vehicle in question throw five kittens out of the window while he was driving on I-65.”

“Tragically, all five of the kittens were struck and killed on the interstate by other vehicles,” the statement said.

The department also added that it takes animal abuse and cruelty “very seriously.”

The police also thanked the witnesses and motorcyclists who called 911. Their information helped the department track down Liccione.

The Homewood PD’s Facebook announcement drew hundreds of reactions. Locals flooded the comments to slam the accused and the cruel act, labeling it as “cruel and heartless.” Netizens demanded maximum sentencing, with one user asking what could drive someone to harm innocent kittens.

The news soon spread across social media platforms, garnering widespread criticism and shock.

Conservative social media personality and commentator Laura Loomer reacted strongly to a post that shared the news on X. “Evil [expletive]. What compels someone to be so evil?” she wrote.

Another user’s comment read, “What is happening to this world? I know there were always bad things but it just seems worse now. Why are we so infiltrated with abuse and murder of innocent animals and children? I just don’t understand it. My heart breaks everyday. There has to be more good than evil. “

“If he did this to animals, he could do it to a human being. May he rot in prison,” a third person’s X post said.