Three Santa Clara middle-school students held for killing animals

Police say three middle-school students are under arrest for killing animals that were used as part of a Santa Clara high school’s science program.

The San Jose Mercury News reported that the students arrested Monday are also suspected of breaking into the school snack shack and smashing windows and damaging vehicles used in the automotive program.

Santa Clara Unified School District spokeswoman Jennifer Dericco tells the paper that four chickens, one duck and a rabbit were killed over the weekend.

The animals were part of a campus garden at Wilcox High School, where students raised and cared for them. Eggs from the chickens were used in the culinary arts program.

Police are not releasing the suspects’ names because they are juveniles.