A Story of Two Victims

(AP photo via NY Daily News)

USA Today headline: A man named Bear killed an alligator to avenge the death of his friend.

First take: how could the vengeful friend be sure?

A man who identified himself to the Houston Chronicle as Bear shot and killed an 11-foot alligator he believed had killed his friend on Friday. “He had to go,” Bear said. “That’s what happens when you kill someone.”

Second take: maybe it was justifiable gator-cide.

game wardens cut open the alligator Monday night – after Bear killed it – and found remains of [Tommie] Woodward inside.

Third take: the alligator was just being an alligator and the 28-year-old Woodward's death, while undeserved and sad, may be a candidate for a Darwin Award.

Woodward went to the marina on Thursday, and despite pleas from the staff and a posted warning sign reading, “No Swimming. Alligators”, jumped in and was “almost immediately attacked.”

From an earlier report:

"The female that was with him saw the alligator come from underneath the dock here in the marina and said 'hey, there's an alligator," said Orange police Capt. Robert Enmon. "And, he acknowledged it and jumped in anyway." [snip]

Woodward was drinking before the attack, but police said they can't confirm alcohol was a factor until they receive autopsy results, which are pending.