Southeast Texas Man Named Bear Shoots the Alligator That Killed His Friend
A southeast Texas man who only identified his name as "Bear" got revenge on the alligator that killed his friend.
Just a few days after 28-year-old Tommie Woodward (pictured above) was killed by an 11-foot alligator at Burkart's Marina in Orange, Texas, a few of his friends captured the gator.
After catching the gator in a trap with chicken as bait, Bear reportedly shot the gator with a shotgun.
“He had to go,” Bear told the Houston Chronicle. “That's what happens when you kill someone.”
Bear and his friends reportedly left as soon as game wardens showed up. Killing an alligator in Texas is a class c misdemeanor and carries up to a $500 fine, but it is not yet known if Bear will face charges.
Woodward was killed last Friday soon after jumping in the water, ignoring a sign warning people not to swim and that alligators were in the water. Woodward reportedly told friends "F--- that alligator!" after they begged him not to jump in.
Wildlife officials opened the alligator's stomach soon after arriving and found some of Woodward's remains inside. He was the first Texan reportedly killed by an alligator since 1836.