A man who reached through a fence into a tiger enclosure at Florida’s Naples Zoo — which led to the tiger biting him and the big cat being fatally shot — will face no charges.
The incident happened in December, when River Rosenquist, 26, climbed over the fence that separated a tiger named Eko from the public. Rosenquist was an employee of a cleaning company hired to clean areas like the gift shop and bathroom, and was not authorized to go into the tiger’s enclosure.
Rosenquist then put his hand through a second fence, and Eko bit him and yanked him towards the enclosure. A responding sheriff’s deputy couldn’t get Eko to release his arm, and shot Eko to save Rosenquist’s life. Rosenquist was seriously injured and Eko died from being shot.
The incident took place after hours, so no members of the public were present.
On Friday, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office announced that Rosenquist would not face criminal charges because “there are no laws on the books that apply” to what occurred.
“I am frustrated and even angered that there is no existing criminal law that applies in this tragic situation that resulted in the untimely death of a rare and endangered tiger,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said in a statement.
Rosenquist’s family released its first public statement on Friday, saying that he was still hospitalized but in “stable condition,” and that doctors were able to avoid amputating his arm. They also expressed “their most heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in saving his life from the police officers and first responders, to the doctors, nurses, and medical personnel.”