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| Cincinnati gorilla shooting: Police open criminal investigation into silverback Harambe's killing in zoo | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A criminal investigation has been launched following outcry over the shooting of an endangered gorilla at a US zoo after a three-year-old boy fell into its enclosure. | A criminal investigation has been launched following outcry over the shooting of an endangered gorilla at a US zoo after a three-year-old boy fell into its enclosure. |
| Cincinnati police have said the investigation will focus on the actions of the boy’s parents and family in the run-up to the incident in which the 450-pound primate, called Harambe, was shot dead by zookeepers after he grabbed hold of the child - who was previously reported as aged four. | Cincinnati police have said the investigation will focus on the actions of the boy’s parents and family in the run-up to the incident in which the 450-pound primate, called Harambe, was shot dead by zookeepers after he grabbed hold of the child - who was previously reported as aged four. |
| The investigation is not into the conduct of Cincinnati Zoo or its safety procedures. | The investigation is not into the conduct of Cincinnati Zoo or its safety procedures. |
| Police said they were taking a second look at possible criminal charges against Michelle Gregg and Deonne Dickinson after initially saying no one had been charged. | Police said they were taking a second look at possible criminal charges against Michelle Gregg and Deonne Dickinson after initially saying no one had been charged. |
| A spokeswoman for the department, Tiffaney Hardy, told CNN: "After the review, we will determine if charges need to be brought forward. | A spokeswoman for the department, Tiffaney Hardy, told CNN: "After the review, we will determine if charges need to be brought forward. |
| "If it is determined charges need to be brought forward, we would then discuss it with the Hamilton County prosecutor's office." | "If it is determined charges need to be brought forward, we would then discuss it with the Hamilton County prosecutor's office." |
| Witnesses said the unnamed boy, who was with his mother at the time of the incident, had expressed a desire to get into the enclosure and climbed over the 3ft barrier, falling 15ft into the moat. | Witnesses said the unnamed boy, who was with his mother at the time of the incident, had expressed a desire to get into the enclosure and climbed over the 3ft barrier, falling 15ft into the moat. |
| Zookeepers then shot the the Western lowland silverback gorilla after he violently dragged and tossed the child around. | Zookeepers then shot the the Western lowland silverback gorilla after he violently dragged and tossed the child around. |
| Ms Gregg said on Facebook that the boy suffered a concussion and scrapes but was otherwise fine. | Ms Gregg said on Facebook that the boy suffered a concussion and scrapes but was otherwise fine. |
| She defended herself against the criticism saying “accidents happen”. | She defended herself against the criticism saying “accidents happen”. |
| But the decision to kill the animal rather than tranquilise provoked outrage around the world with some blaming the boy’s parents for not keeping a closer eye on him. | But the decision to kill the animal rather than tranquilise provoked outrage around the world with some blaming the boy’s parents for not keeping a closer eye on him. |
| Animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation has filed a negligence complaint against the zoo with the US Department of Agriculture. | Animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation has filed a negligence complaint against the zoo with the US Department of Agriculture. |
| The group, which is seeking the maximum penalty of $10,000 (£6,913), said in its complaint that the child’s ability to get past the barrier was proof the zoo was negligent and should be fined for a “clear and fatal violation of the Animal Welfare Act”. | The group, which is seeking the maximum penalty of $10,000 (£6,913), said in its complaint that the child’s ability to get past the barrier was proof the zoo was negligent and should be fined for a “clear and fatal violation of the Animal Welfare Act”. |
| Meanwhile, an online petition demanding "Justice for Harambe" has received over 420,000 signatures. | Meanwhile, an online petition demanding "Justice for Harambe" has received over 420,000 signatures. |
| The open viewing area in the gorilla enclosure was one of the first of its kind in the world but is now common among many zoos across the country. | The open viewing area in the gorilla enclosure was one of the first of its kind in the world but is now common among many zoos across the country. |
| Cincinnati Zoo was at the forefront of the movement away from cages and towards more realistic exhibits behind glass walls. | Cincinnati Zoo was at the forefront of the movement away from cages and towards more realistic exhibits behind glass walls. |
| The federal investigators have said they will conduct their own investigation into the incident but zoo director Thane Maynard insisted the “exhibit is safe, the barrier is safe”. | The federal investigators have said they will conduct their own investigation into the incident but zoo director Thane Maynard insisted the “exhibit is safe, the barrier is safe”. |
| He said it is the first time a visitor has ever breached the Gorilla World exhibit since it first opened in 1978 and a federal inspection two months ago found no problems with it. | He said it is the first time a visitor has ever breached the Gorilla World exhibit since it first opened in 1978 and a federal inspection two months ago found no problems with it. |
| The zoo has explained it shot the gorilla rather than use tranquilisers because tranquilisers would take too long to take effect. | The zoo has explained it shot the gorilla rather than use tranquilisers because tranquilisers would take too long to take effect. |
| Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |