Players, coaches on Kansas high school baseball team accused of killing chicken on field, police confirm

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Police in Kansas have confirmed allegations against players and coaches on a Wichita-area high school baseball team, who are accused of killing a chicken on the field.

The Valley Center Police Department said a school resource officer at the Valley Center High School tipped them off to claims that the varsity team had killed the chicken on Saturday. Afterward the alleged incident, the team left for an away game, police said.

Officials confirmed the allegations on Tuesday — one day after the Valley Center Unified School District (USD 262) announced that the high school's varsity baseball season had been suspended amid an investigation into "possible animal cruelty."

The school district did not detail the incident in Monday's announcement.

"The Valley Center High School varsity baseball season has been suspended due to an active law enforcement investigation. High school administrators were alerted to an incident of possible animal cruelty involving the entire Hornet varsity baseball team and the entire coaching staff on USD 262 property," district officials wrote in a letter to parents. "Immediately upon learning of the incident, high school and district leadership notified the appropriate authorities and suspended the season. A decision regarding the remainder of the baseball season will be made pending the outcome of the investigation."

Nexstar's KSNW reached out to USD 262 after police confirmed details of the incident. District officials did not share any updated statements.

The investigation is currently ongoing.