BLOOD SPATTER ON SCHOOL SIGN.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A local man who claimed to be hunting iguanas near a Boca Raton preschool was arrested Wednesday after deputies discovered he had repeatedly shot a Muscovy duck and left it to suffer. Arash Raffaty Javidan, 29, is now facing a third-degree felony charge of aggravated animal cruelty. The incident took place behind La Petite Academy on Calle Comercio during active school hours, sparking immediate safety concerns for children and staff as Javidan was observed walking the grounds armed with a pellet rifle.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in a arrest documents reviewed by BocaNewsNow.com, deputies responded to the scene after a witness spotted Javidan and alerted the school. When questioned, Javidan identified himself as operating “AJ Javidan Iguana Hunters” but admitted he did not have permission to be on the property. While deputies were on the scene, they found a Muscovy duck that had been shot but was still alive, bleeding and struggling on the pavement. Javidan reportedly only humanely killed the animal after being specifically instructed to do so by law enforcement.
The investigation revealed that the duck’s death was prolonged. A veterinary necropsy performed by Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control found that the bird had been hit by at least five metal pellets, including wounds to the head, beak, and wing. Dr. Russell Landon Baxley determined that the duck likely sustained multiple non-fatal injuries and experienced significant suffering before the final headshot was delivered. Investigators also noted blood splatter on the school’s signage and surrounding pavement, suggesting a reckless disregard for the location and the animals being targeted.
Further interviews with the Mission Bay Homeowners Association confirmed that Javidan had been explicitly told he was not permitted to kill animals on the property without board approval — an authorization he never received. Javidan, a resident of Blue Fin Trail in Boca Raton, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on March 11, 2026. He was released on a $1,000 bond later that day as he awaits his upcoming court appearance for the felony charge.
