Officer kills fox that attacked girl outside middle school
Police shot and killed a fox that bit an 11-year-old girl as she watched football practice at Kennedy Middle School in Charlotte Tuesday night.
Responding to a 911 call, police found the fox beneath a set of metal bleachers. When officers tried to capture the animal, the fox tried to attack them, police said. Officer Trevor Bourque then shot and killed the fox.
Animal Care & Control officers believe the fox also bit three preschoolers earlier Tuesday.
Bourque was working off-duty near the school when he heard the call for service and responded to assist. He used a shotgun to kill the fox, not his service weapon, police said.
The school is in the 4000 block of Gallant Lane, off Arrowood Road Extension and Interstate 485 in southwest Charlotte.
As with any officer-involved shooting, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division will conduct an internal investigation into the shooting.
As a precaution, activities normally held outdoors were brought inside Wednesday, including athletic team practices and physical education and outdoor learning classes, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools spokeswoman Yaviria Escalera said. Outdoor activities will resume Thursday, she said.
Joe Marusak: 704-358-5067, @jmarusak
This story was originally published September 30, 2015 at 8:04 AM with the headline "Officer kills fox that attacked girl outside middle school."