The 11-foot alligator that attacked and killed a Texas man on the Friday has been found illegally shot to death on Monday.
Tommie Woodward, 28, reportedly ignored signs warning of alligators and jumped into a bayou in Orange, Texas, early Friday. A witness said she saw the man’s body floating in the water before he was pulled under. Authorities recovered the body a few hours later and an autopsy revealed he drowned.
Game wardens say a 400-pound, 11-foot 2-inch alligator was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head after a group of men claimed to have trapped and shot it, according to the UPI.
The men were not present when game wardens arrived at the scene. Authorities are investigating the matter and they have persons-of-interest in the case, according to media reports.
Harlan Hatcher, an expert that game wardens call about nuisance alligators, undertook the ugly job of opening the animal and finding Woodward’s remains.
Hatcher told 12News that the tragedy for both the man and gator could have been prevented. People around Burkhardt’s Marina were likely feeding the alligator, which is illegal and dangerous. The alligator continued to hang around the area to get more food. Once the giant reptiles make the association between humans and food, that can lead to lethal consequences.
Game wardens say killing an alligator is a misdemeanor that punishable by a fine of up to $500.
Judge Rodney Price told reporters that the alligator had body parts belonging to Woodward.
Customers at the marina are raising money to pay the poaching citation on behalf of whomever killed the animal.
