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Austin police searching for cobra believed to have killed man
Austin American Statesman ^ | 7-16-15 | unattributed

Posted on 07/16/2015 9:15:29 AM PDT by smokingfrog

Police are searching for a cobra that is believed to have bitten an 18-year-old man who died Tuesday evening.

Police believe Grant Thompson, 18, owned a monocled cobra and that it bit him in his car while at the parking lot of a Lowe’s at 13000 North Interstate 35. Thompson died after going into cardiac arrest, medics have said.

Police said it is possible that the snake is still in the area and are asking anyone with information about the animal to call police at 512-974-5210. Police described the cobra as black with a distinctive circle on its back and a tan underbelly.

Police urged people not to approach the snake, which is considered highly aggressive, and call 911 immediately if they spot it.

According to social media posts and a Temple Daily Telegram article from March, Thompson was a passionate animal lover who worked at Fish Bowl Pet Express in Temple and would show exotic animals to children as part of his job. His mother had taken him to Fish Bowl Pet Express since he was a baby and, after she bought the business in 2013, Thompson volunteered to work there before becoming a staff member, posts on Facebook said.

(Excerpt) Read more at statesman.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: austin; cobraalert; snakeboy; snakevenom; texas
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To: waterhill

...or even several mongeese.


41 posted on 07/16/2015 10:38:24 AM PDT by WayneS (Yeah, it's probably sarcasm...)
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To: TexasGator

Uhhh...I meant that’s why people try it.

They don’t realize that the performers are cheating and in no danger.


42 posted on 07/16/2015 10:39:34 AM PDT by ltc8k6
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To: smokingfrog
Police described the cobra as black with a distinctive circle on its back and a tan underbelly. Police urged people not to approach the snake,

But how will they determine if it has a tan underbelly without turning it over? I know, let's send Pedro. He's good at that stuff.

43 posted on 07/16/2015 10:39:52 AM PDT by LouAvul (Venal and evil people are destroying the world you live in.)
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To: smokingfrog
Police described the cobra as black with a distinctive circle on its back and a tan underbelly.

…so, if you see a black cobra withOUT a distinctive circle on it's back or a tan underbelly, it's probably not the one we're looking for... smh

44 posted on 07/16/2015 10:41:12 AM PDT by FrdmLvr ("WE ARE ALL OSAMA, 0BAMA!" al-Qaeda terrorists who breached the American compound in Benghazi)
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To: Chewbarkah

And besides, Austin is a sanctuary city.


45 posted on 07/16/2015 10:43:29 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: smokingfrog

Was he taking the snake to a drive-in?


46 posted on 07/16/2015 10:45:03 AM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: smokingfrog

We have a Darwin Award WInner!


47 posted on 07/16/2015 10:47:47 AM PDT by JohnBovenmyer (Obama been Liberal. Hope Change)
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To: smokingfrog

Snake on the Plains?


48 posted on 07/16/2015 10:48:11 AM PDT by WayneS (Yeah, it's probably sarcasm...)
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To: ltc8k6
The snake obviously went to snake school.
49 posted on 07/16/2015 10:52:32 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: smokingfrog

When I was in Thailand years ago, a buddy of mine found a cobra under his refrigerator one morning during the cool season. Guess it was warmer under there. No doubt the same species as this one, as they are relatively common in Thailand.

Aussies in some areas have problems with some even more venomous snakes. In the garage or the engine compartment of the car ... yikes! Copperheads are the only concern where I’m living and they aren’t too bad.


50 posted on 07/16/2015 11:11:26 AM PDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)
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To: Liberty Valance

Is that you, James Carville?


51 posted on 07/16/2015 11:12:57 AM PDT by Hulka
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To: WayneS
My cobra loves riding in the car. He sits right up on the seat and sticks his head out the window..

Mine likes the sunroof.

52 posted on 07/16/2015 11:14:14 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: cripplecreek
Here you go:


53 posted on 07/16/2015 11:25:45 AM PDT by LT Brass Bancroft
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To: smokingfrog

Quarantine the airports!


54 posted on 07/16/2015 11:36:11 AM PDT by BlueDragon (...something tells me I'd better activate my prayer capsule)
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To: ZULU
I had a Burmese python for about a year. It grew from 18 inches to 5 ft. My wife was lowering a small rat by the tail into the terrarium when "Monty" latched onto her hand. I lifted the snake and terrarium onto the nearby bed and carefully backed the teeth out of my wife's hand. She just had a small semi-circle of white punctures. No tearing or cuts. We found a childless couple who really wanted a Burmese. That was a safety consideration with two small boys in the house.
55 posted on 07/16/2015 11:55:39 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: smokingfrog
Police described the cobra as black with a distinctive circle on its back and a tan underbelly.

did they say anything about one with tan stripes and no circle?


56 posted on 07/16/2015 1:10:22 PM PDT by TangibleDisgust ("To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." - Voltaire)
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To: smokingfrog

Since importing non-native venomous snakes is verboten, does this count as yet another American killed by an illegal alien in a sanctuary city?


57 posted on 07/16/2015 1:40:56 PM PDT by Chewbarkah
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To: Myrddin

They get quiet large and a bite from a big constrictor is painful and can get septic. Get a corn snake or king snake.


58 posted on 07/16/2015 4:33:59 PM PDT by ZULU (Democrats are paleosocialists)
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To: ZULU
We had a Rosy Boa for almost 15 years. The garter snakes (UNIX and C) escaped. The wild type rabbit (Harvey) lived 11 years. The blue front Amazon parrot (Flip...as in flip the bird) went 18 years before a heat wave took him out. The pair of cocktiels (Harry and Woodstock) went 23 years. We have pretty good success with out pets. Our oldest dog is 13 years old now. The bearded dragon is 3 years old. The Maine Coon cats (25 lbs and 36 lbs) are 14 years old. We have 7 dogs right now. That's a handful. Keeping the water dish full is a full time job. I haven't had time for restarting the aquariums. I had my choice of south American cichlids, African cichlids or salt water fish in San Diego. Plenty of stores and support. No as good in Pocatello. I like Red Devils, Tiger Oscars, tire track eels, Plecostamus (catfish) and Reed fish. Jack Dempseys are nice looking fish too. Simply no time for that right now.
59 posted on 07/16/2015 6:01:12 PM PDT by Myrddin
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