NFL player’s family indicted for killing bald eagle, arrest made.
Man Charged with Killing Bald Eagle, Father of NFL Player
A Pennsylvania man, who is the father of Indianapolis Colts safety Rodney Thomas II, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for killing a bald eagle in May. The suspect, Rodney Thomas Sr., is facing charges for violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, a federal misdemeanor offense.
The majestic bird that was killed had been living in Mount Pleasant, a Pittsburgh suburb, for nearly 20 years. Locals had even given the eagle the name “Sam,” after the character in Disney’s Muppet Vision 3D, according to the New York Post.
If convicted, Thomas could face a fine of up to $100,000 and a maximum jail sentence of one year. The indictment alleges that Thomas shot and killed the mature bald eagle with an air rifle on or about May 12, 2023, in Mount Pleasant, as reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan emphasized the importance of protecting bald eagles, stating, “This Office remains committed to investigating and prosecuting environmental and wildlife offenses under federal law, including the unlawful killing of bald eagles — the United States’ national bird since 1782.”
NFL safety Rodney Thomas’ father arrested for fatally shooting bald eagle https://t.co/uWVKHsLEKN pic.twitter.com/UA8LBYOOma
— New York Post (@nypost) July 23, 2023
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh expressed his commitment to bringing justice in this case, saying, “A symbolic species such as the bald eagle deserves our protection. My office, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, and the Mount Pleasant Police Department worked diligently coordinating with each other to identify and charge the individual responsible and bring him to justice.”
The suspect had admitted to the Pennsylvania Game Commission in May, as reported by Fox News. The slain eagle was part of a pair that had recently given birth to two eaglets.
Linda Carnevali, a bird lover in the neighborhood, expressed her devastation over the incident, stating, “We’re devastated that this would happen, and we don’t understand why somebody would do this.” She added, “We have taken it very personally and feel that the mission to bring this to justice is deserved and necessary.”
The suspect’s name was not made public until recently. Carnevali had been in contact with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh, seeking updates on the investigation. She expressed frustration, saying, “We have all been calling the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh each week, and all they will say is that it is under investigation — even though the person responsible has confessed to the crime.”
Rodney Thomas II, the son of the suspect, is a professional football player for the Indianapolis Colts. He was a seventh-round pick and played college football at Yale, according to CBS. In the previous season, he played in all 17 games, recording 52 tackles and four interceptions.
For more details, read the full article on The Western Journal.
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