A Florida resident, Clay Neil Kinney, 27, has been apprehended for intentionally running over a deer while filming the act to share on TikTok, according to local law enforcement. Kinney, whose license was suspended at the time, allegedly attempted to hit five different deer. He now faces five counts of animal torment, one count of animal torture, and a moving traffic violation, as per the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
The video Kinney posted on TikTok was what initially drew attention to his actions. In the video, Kinney is seen aiming for and hitting a deer on the side of the road while driving his blue 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe. The exact date of the recording and its publication remains unknown.
On December 28, a detective investigating the video spotted a blue Tahoe that matched the vehicle description in the video. The vehicle was seen traveling on Lake Harney Road and then turning onto Harney Heights Road in Geneva, a part of the broader Orlando metropolitan area. The detective initiated a traffic stop after turning on his blue lights.
Kinney immediately confessed to the detective that he was driving with a suspended license, according to the sheriff’s office. After being read his Miranda rights, Kinney admitted to intentionally running over the deer with his vehicle. The video showed Kinney attempting to run over five deer in total, but he was only successful in hitting one.
The fate of the deer hit by the Tahoe remains unknown. However, the charges against Kinney accuse him of intentionally causing torture, pain, and suffering to the deer hit by his vehicle. He is also accused of attempting to mutilate or kill the other five deer. These offenses are categorized as “conservation” crimes.
Kinney was held briefly in the Seminole County Jail before being released on a $2,000 bail after approximately eight hours, according to Seminole County court records. Kinney has a history of minor offenses, mostly vehicle-related, dating back to 2010. This is not his first legal issue involving an animal or a deer-related offense.
In May 2021, he was charged with illegal hunting in a wildlife management area closed to hunters and for allowing a dog to pursue or molest wildlife. He was found guilty and given six months probation. In August 2021, he was arrested for illegal taking and possession of deer after he was found with a fawn in a dog box. He was fined a total of $758 for this offense.
Kinney is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment on January 30, 2024. The sheriff’s office was contacted for additional details and comments on this story, but no response was received at the time of publication.