Queens DA: Man tossed cat off balcony, stomped it to death in front of kids

FAR ROCKAWAY, Queens (WABC) -- A Queens man was indicted Tuesday on animal cruelty charges after authorities say he threw a cat from a third-floor balcony and then stomped it to death in front of children.

Giovanni Olivo, 30, of Far Rockaway, is also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in connection with the September 30, 2016 incident.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Olivo was seen tossing the cat from the balcony of his home on Beach 26th Street and watching the feline hit the ground. Olivo is then alleged to have gone down to the street and repeatedly stomped on the cat while stating "you're dead to this world."

Numerous people, including children, who were outside at the time are alleged to have witnessed the cat's death.

"The defendant is accused of killing a defenseless cat in a cruel and vile act of brutality," Brown said. "Having been thrown from a third-floor balcony, the cat miraculously survived the fall, only for the defendant to allegedly stomped on the cat until she was dead while onlookers - several of whom were children - looked on in horror."

Olivo faces up to two years in prison if convicted. He was released under supervision and ordered to return to court on July 13.