Four men are facing animal cruelty charges after police say they taped mice to fireworks in a Pittsburgh neighborhood earlier this year.

Nerson Amini, Abdi Mnongerwa, Zyquon Tot, and Gabriel Metusera are all facing numerous felony charges along with other offenses stemming from an investigation into social media videos showing mice attached with duct tape to fireworks before being lit. 

People in the Northview Heights neighborhood reported the incident on Aug. 13.

Last month, Pittsburgh Police investigators said they learned about the videos on social media, and when detectives responded to Mount Pleasant Road, they said they recovered a plastic bin, remnants from fireworks, and a roll of tape.

Detectives say they watched about four mice get strapped to fireworks on Instagram videos.

Through their investigation, they found that the mice were not stolen, but bought at Petco stores on McKnight Road in Ross Township and at the Waterworks Mall.

Investigators also reviewed surveillance video and interviewed witnesses before executing a search warrant.

"In one of the videos, one of these large bottle rocket-type mortars curves to the side and goes directly towards the row homes and cars and explodes by the vehicles and house," Detective Alex Castanzo said.

Concerns over fireworks in a dense community are one thing. Concerns for animal lives are another.

"Who would even think of doing something like that to a poor little creature like that. I just can't believe this, it boggles my mind," resident Cliff Miller said.

In the court documents, Pittsburgh police investigators say Petco cooperated and even found surveillance video. Shoppers believe the store is not at fault for selling the mice.

"I'm sure (Petco) didn't know what they were going to buy those mice for," Miller said.

All four men now face a long list of animal cruelty charges for what detectives call the explosive "torture" and "murder" of mice.