In case you’ve forgotten, last week a man was killed by an alligator when he failed to heed warnings or indeed common sense and decided to go for his last ever late night swim. This week, one of his redneck mates, known only as ‘Bear’, thought he’d have the last laugh by shooting the animal in the head, in honour of his dead buddy.

When asked what motivated him to slaughter the 11-foot beast, Bear told the Houston Chronicle:

He had to go, that’s what happens when you kill someone.”

Well, it’s Texas so that sounds about right, although if ‘Bear’ were a real man surely he would have fought the alligator ‘mano a mano’, rather than shooting a defenceless animal whose only crime was to act on its instincts.

As the NY Daily Times reports:

Heavy rain has displaced alligators in the area in the last 45 days, causing them to become more territorial, especially as they’re in breeding season”, authorities said.

‘Bear’ hasn’t been arrested yet, and let’s face it, he probably won’t be. So I suppose it’s just another day of mob justice in the Deep South of America.

[sources: NY Daily Times and The Houston Chronicle]