A Ventura County man is accused of shooting and killing a mountain lion. Mountain lion P-38 was found dead in the Simi Valley area in July. The mountain lion was one of the big cats involved in National Park Service research studies, and had a radio tracking collar.
Biologists determined that the seven year old male mountain lion died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Ventura County prosecutors say evidence led investigators to Alfredo Gonzales of Simi Valley. They say the 60 year old Simi Valley man has been charged with killing a protected mammal, and with the vandalism of the collar.
It’s illegal to kill a mountain lion without a state permit.