An Instagram star cat has died from the injuries he suffered after his owner was attacked during an altercation in a New York City park, police have confirmed.
Ponzu, who has 23,000 followers on the social media site, is said to have had his ‘claws pulled out’ following the incident in McCarren park earlier this month.
Footage from the incident appears to show his owner – identified as Chanan Aksornnan, 34 – was then punched and kicked on the ground.
Police have confirmed they are hunting the suspect, described as ‘a white female Hispanic, 5’7”, 200 lbs., with red hair and a pony tail’. No arrests have been made.
A young boy, who had been with the suspect, is understood to have tripped over the leash Ponzu was being walked on. But the cat’s owners claimed the boy pulled on the leash and sent the cat flying through the air and ripping out his claws.
Ponzu is then said to have then suffered a heart attack and died at the scene.
That led to an altercation between his owner and the suspect, which was filmed by onlookers. The cat owner’s boyfriend – who has not been named – is also said to have been injured during the assault.
Owner Aksornnan said the suspect told her: ‘This is what you [get] when you walk you f*****g cat b***h.’
The couple had been out walking their dog, two cats and bird on April 4.
Ponzu, who has 23,000 followers, died following the incident in McCarren park
Footage from the incident appears to show his owner – identified as Chanan Aksornnan, 34 – being punched and kicked on the ground
Footage from the incident appears to show his owner – identified as Chanan Aksornnan, 34 – being punched and kicked on the ground. No arrests have been made and police are hunting the suspect, described as ‘a white female Hispanic, 5’7”, 200 lbs., with red hair and a pony tail’
The couple had been out walking their dog, two cats and bird on April 4
Aksornnan told Greenpointers: ‘The family not only did not offer any apology nor remorse. They immediately began a verbal abuse which escalated into a physical assault.’
A spokesperson for the NYPD told DailyMail.com: ‘On Sunday, April 4, 2021 at approximately 1651 hours police responded to a 911 call of an assault inside of McCarren Park within the confines of the 94th Precinct.
‘Upon arrival police were informed by a 34 year-old female that she had a dispute with an unknown Hispanic female suspect when the suspect punched and kicked the victim causing cuts and bruises.
‘A 50 year-old male intervened in the dispute and was struck with a closed fist to his face causing a laceration to his nose. The suspect then fled the location.’
A young boy, who had been with the suspect, is understood to have accidentally tripped over the leash Ponzu was being walked on. Ponzu is said to have then suffered a heart attack and had his claws ripped out as a result of the incident
In a statement announcing his death, Ponzu’s owners wrote: ‘Dear Friends – it is with an immense sadness and anguish that we bring you this tragic news: our beloved Ponzu died on Easter Sunday after suffering shock and injuries from an incident in our park.
‘We are traumatized, lost for words, heartbroken. Our family got physically assaulted that day and there is a pending police investigation to find and charge the perpetrators who showed no empathy for animals nor humans.
‘We feel robbed. Ponzu was taken away from us way too soon. He was only 3 years and 4 months old. We lost our beloved boy.
‘Ponzu was one of a kind, special. We fell in love with him from the first sight. He was gentle, caring, loving, playful, and handsome. He was curious and loved outdoors. He was well travelled. And he brought joy and smile to millions across the globe.’
They noted that the gentle, caring, loving, playful, and handsome’ cat has a ‘fragile heart but said they had ‘learned how to keep him in a good health’.
In a statement announcing his death, Ponzu’s owners wrote: ‘Dear Friends – it is with an immense sadness and anguish that we bring you this tragic news: our beloved Ponzu died on Easter Sunday after suffering shock and injuries from an incident in our park’
His owners noted that the gentle, caring, loving, playful, and handsome’ cat has a ‘fragile heart but said they had ‘learned how to keep him in a good health’
