Nev. Veterinarian Was Allegedly Seen Kicking a Horse in a Viral Video — and Now He's Missing

A veterinarian in Nevada allegedly seen kicking a horse in a video that went viral on social media is now missing, according to multiple reports, as police say he’s the subject of a criminal investigation.

On April 3, Dr. Shawn Frehner was called to administer anesthetic shots for horses at a property in Pahrump, located about 60 miles west of Las Vegas, Shawna Gonzalez, the property owner, told 8 News Now.

“I heard [my mother] yell, ‘Oh my God. He just kicked him,’” Gonzalez said, per the outlet. “Oh my God, Mom, he’s choking,” she added. “He wrapped the horse around his neck three times, and he kicked him in the head.”

Gonzalez, who said she had previously hired Frehner for animal-related services, recalled having a “severe anxiety attack” after the alleged incident, which was recorded by her daughter, the outlet reports.

Gonzalez said the horse was treated for abrasions to the skull and other injuries, per the outlet.

Since then, Gonzalez said she has pushed for animal cruelty charges against Frehner, 8 News Now reports. Nye County Sheriff Joe McGill confirmed to the outlet that there is an open criminal investigation against Frehner.

Sources also confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Frehner is the subject of an animal cruelty investigation, though no arrests have been made.

The video has since gone viral online and according to Fox 5 Vegas, Frehner’s family said the clip was taken out of context.

Frehner also reportedly responded to the allegations in a social media post.

“I did not blatantly haul off and kick this horse as it appears in the video. That was not my intention at all,” Frehner said, per 8 News Now. “It was done simply to get the horse in a better position so that he could breathe and get up and move so I could again try to anesthetize.”

Now, authorities from multiple agencies are searching for Frehner, who is believed to have gone missing, per the Review-Journal and Fox 5 Vegas.

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“The search for a missing individual at Lake Mead National Recreation Area is ongoing,” the National Park Service said in a statement to PEOPLE on April 8.

“The National Park Service is leading this multiagency effort, with support from the Nevada Department of Wildlife and volunteers from Red Rock Search and Rescue. We are grateful for the information provided by the public so far, which has been helpful to our search efforts.”

“If you were in the Hemenway Harbor Launch Ramp area on Sunday, April 6, and have any additional information, please call 888-653-0009,” the statement concluded.