Gorilla Shot After Escaping at Dallas Zoo, Where It Bit, Scratched Three People

AP ^ | 3-18-04

[Indy Pendance]

DALLAS (AP) - Police shot and killed a gorilla that escaped from its enclosure at the Dallas Zoo on Thursday and injured three people.

One adult and two children, ages 10 and 2, suffered minor injuries from the gorilla and were taken to area hospitals, Deputy Police Chief Daniel Garcia said. He said the three were bitten and scratched.

The zoo was evacuated after the animal escaped and police were notified. When the gorilla charged two officers, getting within 15 feet of them, they opened fire, Garcia said.

"We were forced to put this animal down," he said.

Garcia said police officers' objective was protecting citizens until authorities could figure out what to do with the gorilla.

Diana Gonzalez, a zoo patron, said she saw the animal banging on the door of its enclosure, and then it broke. The gorilla then scampered out of the gorilla pit.

Dallas zoo director Rich Buickerood said the primate was an inquisitive 13-year-old Western Lowland gorilla. He said the animal was likely "extremely excited and extremely fearful while it was out."

He said zoo officials are trying to figure out how the escape happened.

Last year, a 300-pound gorilla escaped twice in two months from Boston's Franklin Park Zoo.

In the second escape, he strolled around the zoo and the surrounding streets for about two hours and attacked a 2-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman. Both suffered minor injuries. The animal was sedated with tranquilizer darts.

The zoo reopened its gorilla exhibit last month without the escapee, named Little Joe, who now spends his time in a holding area away from the public.

[eddie willers]

[formercalifornian]

They KILLED it? They should have tried negotiations first. Banana sanctions at least! Man!

[Frank_2001]

Was it a Palestinian gorilla?;)

[Tabi Katz]

Boy the French are going to be mad when they hear this! LOL

[Charles Henrickson]

The inquisitive quick gorilla?

[krb]

I wonder if the cops who gunned it down consulted the UN first.

[JRandomFreeper]

They KILLED it? They should have tried negotiations first.

Dallas cops... I wonder if they found a bag of cocaine... er... ground up sheetrock... er... whatever... on the great ape after they offed it.

Oops. Wrong story. All jokes aside, I approve of the actions of the officers in this case. I just want to see the shooting report and find out how many rounds were fired and how many hits were scored.

/john

[TheDon]

Never call the police unless you are willing to have them kill your problem. Sounds like the keepers were not doing their job. First, build the enclosure so the animals can't get out. Second, have a plan to evacuate the zoo and tranquilize any animals that escape anyway.

[CheezyD]

Joh Kerry thinks the threat presented by escaped gorillas has been exaggerated.

[squidly]

Whatever happened to zoo employees with tranquilizer darts?

[eddie willers]

Three....have Bi-Planes with machine guns at ready.

[blackbart.223]

"I wonder if the cops who gunned it down consulted the UN first."

Thank God they didn't. The UN would wait untill three thousand innocents were murdered and then call for sanctions. And after those sanctions didn't work they would ask for more time to study them while the gorilla was still at large.

[Spruce]

Taste like chicken. So I've heard.

[Chu Gary]

Had this happened at the Cincinnati Zoo, the two officers would be filling out forms for two months, then appearing in front of a citizen's review panel, then would probably have a suspension and reprimands placed in their files. Hell, they might be fired or put on trial!

[blackbart.223]

"Taste like chicken. So I've heard."

I'll have to take your word on that.

[lowbridge]

Police shot and killed a gorilla

Twas beauty killed the beast!

[Slings and Arrows]

If they'd just waited a little longer, the Cowboys would have signed it as a defensive tackle.

[lowbridge]

I'll have to take your word on that.

He's lying.

Actually it tastes like soylent green.

[blackbart.223]

"Actually it tastes like soylent green."

Then I'll have to take a pass on it.