Police find family feeding an orphan deer in US so they shoot it dead in front of them ‘because it was domesticated’

25 October 2023, 08:11 | Updated: 25 October 2023, 08:16

Police in the US shot dead an orphan deer in front of the family who raised it
Police in the US shot dead an orphan deer in front of the family who raised it. Picture: Social Media

By Asher McShane

Police who shot dead a beloved ‘domesticated’ deer in the US have sparked a backlash among the local community.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

A police officer shot dead the deer, named Annie, on October 20 outside the home of Pamela Babb in Lawrence, Van Buren County in Michigan.

Footage on social media shows a police officer, David Loza, wrestling with Annie. After a struggle, a second video shows him shooting the animal dead.

He pins the deer to the ground and fires a single shot into the animal’s head, the deer jolts and goes limp.

Under Michigan law, only licensed rehabilitates can legally possess wildlife. Families are banned from keeping wild animals as pets.

Annie the deer was shot dead by police in the US
Annie the deer was shot dead by police in the US. Picture: Social Media

Homeowner Pamela Babb told local outlet WWMT that her family rescued the animal and had raised it since it was a fawn.

She said police were at her property for an unrelated child support matter when officer Loza spotted the animal.

“He reached out and put his hand on her head and was able to touch her and he said she is domesticated and needs to be put down,” said Ms Babb.

WARNING: Video contains strong language

Warning this is hard to watch My Anne girl has been wrongfully shot by the police! Because she was a “pet” but has never...

Posted by Nevaeh Sylvester on Friday, October 20, 2023

Nevaeh Sylvester, Babb's granddaughter, added: “Save her, I couldn't, I just wanted to so bad, but there is nothing we could have done. I just wanted her to be safe and she wasn't.

Read more: Decision to remove Shamima Begum of British citizenship ‘unlawful’, court hears, as ISIS bride fights to return to UK

Read more: Shaft actor Richard Roundtree dies aged 81 of pancreatic cancer, as co-stars pay tribute to 'best to ever do it'

Annie the deer was domesticated and delighted the local community
Annie the deer was domesticated and delighted the local community. Picture: Social Media

“'She was a piece of my family like a child or sibling, I was very close with her.”

Chief of Pokagon Band Tribal Police Mario RedLegs said in a statement: “The Pokagon Band Tribal Police is currently conducting an investigation regarding a deer being euthanized at the property of a suspect from Lawrence, Michigan, who was taken into custody for a warrant on Friday, October 20. 

“The Pokagon Band Tribal Police were assisting Van Buren County Law enforcement and consulted with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 

“The officer involved has been placed on Administrative Leave. We appreciate your patience in this matter, and we will provide an update once the investigation is complete.”

Furious residents are demanded justice and have created a Facebook group “Justice for Annie.”

One person commented in the group: “She was killed because the tribal officer said she was a danger! Heartless.”

Melissa Copen wrote: “Just my opinion but nothing.. NOTHING he says will make it right or bring her back.”

Shannon Bowman posted: “Can somebody tell me why he came to the house put the deer in that thing and then shot her? Like what was their story?

“Life is precious for all God’s creatures, that man is heartless, I’ll be praying for his soul.”

Rob Kirsop said: “Totally unnecessary. Very poor judgement from officer Loza. Laws are put in place to ensure safety but they don’t cover every situation. This animal did no harm. The people feeding her did no harm. Loza killed, distressing the deer beforehand and the people who watched. Hope you get justice for Annie”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Senior Tories including Suella Braverman and Michael Gove have criticised the judge's comments

Senior Tories blast 'out of touch' judge for 'ludicrous attack' on Starmer’s migrant remarks

Breaking
Breaking News

Hamas to return bodies of Bibas family with six more Israelis to walk free

Lisa Smith, 43, was with a female friend when she was killed outside the Three Horseshoes pub in Knockholt, Kent

Man suspected of fatally shooting wife outside pub on Valentine's Day rang friend and said 'she's dead'

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80

Carry On legend Julian Holloway dies aged 80 after 'brief illness' as tributes pour in

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned 'any appearance by armed forces under some other flag' in Ukraine would be 'completely unacceptable', in a dig at a peace plan floated by Keir Starmer.

Keir Starmer’s Ukraine peacekeeping plan ‘completely unacceptable’, Russia tells US in Saudi Arabia talks

Rita Lambourne, 58, was “fatally wounded” at her home in Bayencourt South, Bexhill

Man charged with axe murder of woman in own home

Lydia Mugambe is accused of taking 'advantage of her status'

UN judge ‘trafficked woman to UK to be her slave'

Anonymous posters have appeared in Hampstead Heath, a park in north London, calling for gay men to stop using the park for sex.

'Take back Hampstead Heath', dog walkers urged as posters appear calling for men to stop using park for sex

Gavin Nicholls was tackled to the ground by a plain-clothed officer outside the Co-op in Barnet

Moment serial shoplifter is tackled off e-scooter by police as he flees store in north London

The plane, which was carrying 80 people, slid down onto the icy runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport before bursting into flames

Horrifying video shows moment Delta plane crashes on tarmac and bursts into flames at Toronto airport

Healey's comments came following Russia-US Peake talks in Saudi Arabia.

UK facing 'new era of threat' from Russia, Defence Secretary says as he unveils ‘biggest military shake up in 50 years’

Passengers escape Flipped over Delta plane after it crashed while landing in Toronto

'We were hanging upside down like bats': Survivors reveal fear and chaos inside flipped over Delta plane

England's top judge slams Starmer and Badenoch over Gaza family immigration comments

'Judges aren't free from criticism': Backlash after England's top judge attacks Starmer's migrant remarks

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

British couple on round-the-world motorbike adventure charged with espionage by Iranian authorities

An assistant referee has been charged with child sexual offences.

Assistant referee for FA Cup and football league games charged with child sexual offence

Corinna Schumacher, right, has broken her silence on the case involving a plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets.

Michael Schumacher's wife breaks silence after three men guilty of blackmail plot to reveal F1 legend's health secrets