Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Shooting—Cops Investigating Boy’s Parents

cincinnati zoo gorilla shooting parents investigation launched—critics call for family of 3-year-old boy to face negligence charges

Cincinnati cops are investigating the parents of the 4-year-old boy who fell into Harambe the gorilla’s zoo enclosure Saturday.

The incident led to zoo officials shooting dead the endangered western lowland gorilla, who had been behind zoo bars since his birth in captivity 17-years ago.

The shooting was caught on camera and has led to an outcry—with many criticizing the zoo for not tranquilizing the gorilla instead of shooting him dead.

A zoo spokesperson claimed that was not an option, explaining that a tranquilizer dart requires time to take effect, and may have prompted the gorilla to act violently towards the little boy.

The zoo claims their only option in order to ensure the boy’s safety was to kill Harambe.

However, new video footage surfaced Monday, seemingly showing the 800Lb gorilla was actually protecting the boy, rather than posing any threat to his life.

And, some animal behaviorists claim Harambe was showing no aggression towards the child, and that when he was dragging the boy across the water, it was in reaction to screaming from the crowds.

That he was actually trying to keep the boy safe from danger.

The new video footage also appears to show the gorilla holding the little boy’s hand just shortly before the shooting.

Whatever the true situation—and, we will never know for sure now either way—Harambe is dead, and there’s no bringing him back.

However, people want somebody to be held accountable for his death—and the finger of blame is now being pointed firmly at the boy’s parents.

News of the investigation into Michelle Gregg and Deonne Dickerson, follows calls for them to be charged with negligence.

Although, it has to be noted, Dickerson was not at the zoo that day.

An online petition was launched shortly after the investigation, with over 385,000 people (at time of posting) demanding Gregg be held responsible for the gorilla’s death.

A Facebook page, called Justice 4 Harambe was also set up.

Gregg has been subjected to online abuse and some have called for her to be fired from her job.

Following the online harassment, Gregg removed her Facebook page—but, she posted about the incident shortly after it occurred.

Sharing that her son was "able to walk away with a concussion and a few scrapes... no broken bones or internal injuries".

She went on to state:

As a society we are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes of of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids.

Accidents happen but I am thankful people were in the right place today.

Meanwhile, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters says once the police inquiry had finished they “will confer with our office on possible criminal charges.”

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