The mother of a 3-year-old boy who tumbled into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo late last month won't face criminal charges in the wake of the incident, a prosecutor in Ohio said Monday.
"If anyone does not believe a 3-year-old can scamper off very quickly, they've never had kids," Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters said at a press conference. "Because they can and they do."
The boy crawled through a barrier at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and fell into the outdoor gorilla center on May 28. After he dropped into the exhibit, a 17-year-old male gorilla named Harambe picked up and dragged the child, zoo director Thane Maynard later told reporters.
Officials tasked with handling the situation determined that the child's life was in danger, and the animal was fatally shot.
"The zoo lost a beautiful animal and one that many people in this area have enjoyed watching for a long time, but it's still an animal," Deters said. "It does not equate human life. And they felt that this boy's life was in jeopardy, and they did, they made the painful choice to do what they did."
Deters on Monday said that witnesses who were on the scene that day described an attentive mother, who had "simply turned her back." The mother visited the zoo with four children, including the 3-year-old, Deters' office said in a news release. One of the mother's friends was also present, as well as that woman's teenager and 7-year-old.
Harambe had the child between its legs when it was killed with a single shot to the head, the release stated. The child was taken to a local hospital after the encounter, but wasn't seriously injured.
"It's sad enough that the gorilla was taken out," Deters said. "But it could have been a lot worse."
The gorilla exhibit is expected to reopen Tuesday, the zoo said in a news release.
In a statement, the boy's family said it was "very pleased" with the decision, which was what they had expected.
"This is one more step in allowing us to put this tragic episode behind us and return to our normal family life," the statement said. "We extend thanks to all of those who have been praying for us and who have supported us through this trying ordeal and praise to God for His mercy and grace."
The Washington Post
Tue Jun 07 2016
Officials tasked with handling the situation determined that the child's life was in danger, and the animal was fatally shot.
APMM rampas minuman beralkohol, bot, enjin bernilai RM472,000
APMM Labuan merampas minuman beralkohol pelbagai jenama, sebuah bot fiber, dan tiga enjin dianggarkan bernilai lebih RM472,000 yang disyaki terlibat dalam aktiviti penyeludupan.
Kefahaman orang ramai terhadap harta intelek masih rendah - Fuziah
Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Kos Sara Hidup komited meningkatkan kefahaman orang ramai yang masih rendah terhadap harta intelek, kata Timbalan Menterinya Fuziah Salleh.
MITI perkenal slogan baharu: Fokus diperbaharui pacu pelaburan, perdagangan, industri
Kementerian Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI) telah memperkenalkan slogan baharu "Pemacu Potensi Global" yang mencerminkan fokusnya yang diperbaharui.
Kelaparan akut jejaskan 281.6 juta orang tahun lepas - PBB
Tahap bahaya kelaparan akut menjejaskan 281.6 juta orang tahun lepas, tahun kelima berturut-turut bahawa ketakjaminan makanan semakin memburuk.
Pusat Kargo KLIA gempar ancaman bom, rupanya bungkusan berisi komputer riba
Pusat Kargo Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) gempar apabila mesin pengimbas menerima bungkusan tertera ayat ancaman bom hari ini.
Ziana Zain giat bersenam di gimnasium, persiap diri untuk konsert solo bulan depan
Ziana Zain mahu memastikan beliau mampu memberikan yang terbaik apabila impiannya itu bakal menjadi kenyataan bulan depan.
AWANI 7:45 [25/04/2024] - Akaun KWSP distruktur semula | Pensyarah pro-Israel | Suspek tembak di KLIA didakwa | Astro Radio kekal nombor 1!
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas #AWANI745 bersama Cynthia Ng;
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
Agihan 10% akaun tiga, pencarum boleh keluar bila-bila masa
Serangan di KLIA, Hafizul didakwa cuba bunuh isteri
SPRM sahkan Tun Mahathir disiasat isu isytihar harta
Era, Sinar, Gegar jejak dominasi saluran radio Melayu
Saksikan #AWANI745 di saluran 501 Astro AWANI, Astro AWANI apps dan astroawani.com/live-tv.
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
Agihan 10% akaun tiga, pencarum boleh keluar bila-bila masa
Serangan di KLIA, Hafizul didakwa cuba bunuh isteri
SPRM sahkan Tun Mahathir disiasat isu isytihar harta
Era, Sinar, Gegar jejak dominasi saluran radio Melayu
Saksikan #AWANI745 di saluran 501 Astro AWANI, Astro AWANI apps dan astroawani.com/live-tv.
AWANI Ringkas: SSPA terbaik pernah diperkenalkan kerajaan - PM
AWANI Ringkas
Pasaran getah ditutup rendah bagi hari keempat berturut-turut
Pada 5 petang, harga rujukan bagi getah fizikal LGM untuk GMM 20 adalah 754 sen sekilogram manakala susu getah pukal ialah 700.5 sen sekilogram.
Bursa Malaysia ditutup rendah selepas kenaikan enam hari berturut-turut
Pada 5 petang, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) susut 2.23 mata kepada 1,569.25 daripada 1,571.48 ketika ditutup pada Rabu.