Jupiter Man Arrested After Alligator Found Dead With Hammer in Its Forehead
A Jupiter man is facing wildlife and firearm charges after state officers found a dead alligator with a hammer lodged in its forehead, CBS12 reported.
Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) went to check on the animal Sunday, October 18, after receiving an anonymous tip about a dead alligator. When they arrived, they found the hammer still sticking out of its head.
According to the report, Desmond Keogh admitted to officers that he shot the alligator once in the head and then hit it several times with a hammer. Investigators determined that Keogh did not have active alligator tags and that he had fired his gun illegally in a public place.
The charges
Keogh is charged with:
- Killing, injuring or possessing an alligator or its eggs without authorization
- Discharging a firearm on public or residential property
- Using or displaying a firearm during the commission of a felony
CBS12 did not report where the alligator was found, Keogh's age, or information about bond or a court date.
Why tags matter
Alligators are a protected species in Florida. They can be legally taken only by permitted hunters during the state's regulated hunting season, or by trappers contracted through FWC's nuisance alligator program, and each animal must be tagged.
Residents who are concerned about an alligator near their home can call FWC's nuisance alligator hotline at 866-392-4286 (866-FWC-GATOR). Suspected wildlife violations can be reported to the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-3922.
The charges are allegations, and Keogh is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.