In late January, 18-year-old Asa Palmer of North Stonington discovered that two of his family farms’ cows had been shot in the face. A neighbor told him he’d heard five gunshots the night before. One of the heifers, Angel, had to be euthanized.

A classmate of Palmer’s at Wheeler High School was arrested last month and faces a slew of charges, including first-degree reckless endangerment and cruelty to animals. Two other classmates face lesser charges for their role in the attack.