A group of chickens have lived freely in Ocean Springs for years

The Gulf Coast city of Ocean Springs is one of Mississippi’s most picturesque towns, with mom and pop shops lining Washington Avenue downtown, reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell painting complete with chickens roaming the streets.

The chickens have been a source of contention among some residents over the years who either love them or hate them, but the chickens have endured for many years as part of the community.

Early Thursday morning, one of Ocean Springs’ most well-known chickens Carl the Rooster was confirmed dead by residents who posted surveillance videos on social media that purportedly show a group of people walking off with Carl whose body turned up later.

“So sad, our Carl Junior rooster downtown was killed sometime between Sunday and now by young idiots, but their identity has yet to be released,” said Connie Moran, former Ocean Springs mayor in a Facebook post Thursday morning. “They think they are being cool or maybe even acting out a dare, but what they really are — are felons.”

Moran included a couple of surveillance videos with her post showing what appeared to be a woman carrying a rooster out of a building and walking off while being followed by a group of men.

Meanwhile, social media has exploded with posts decrying the demise of Carl the Rooster, many under the hashtag #justiceforcarljr.

“Several years ago, a small band of roosters popped onto the scene in downtown Ocean Springs,” according to roostoceansprings.com. “Stories circled on their origin, but regardless of where they came from, it was apparent that the community of Ocean Springs wanted to welcome the roosters to stay, especially Carl.”

Madison Olivia Impey posted a memorial to Carl on Facebook. 

“It has been confirmed that someone in fact did kill our sweet Carl & that charges will be pressed,” said Impey, an Ocean Springs resident, in her Facebook post. “My heart hurts for our Ocean Springs as we have lost our sweet rooster who was loved by everyone.”