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June 16, 2023 | 8:50 PM
An Arizona man was killed Friday morning after being attacked by a bear on his property after being unprovoked and indiscriminately attacked, officials said.
Tucson resident Stephen Jackson, 66, was found dead next to a black bear on Groom Creek in the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. said in a statement.
Jackson was drinking coffee outside on the property he was building when the animal started attacking him just before 8 a.m. local time.
“It appears that a male black bear unknowingly attacked Mr. Jackson and dragged him to about 75 feet above the embankment,” the sheriff’s office said.
Neighbors who heard Jackson’s screams tried to deter the bear by yelling and honking their car horns, but the bear was relentless.
A neighbor then retrieved the rifle and shot and killed the bear.
“Unfortunately, by then, Mr. Jackson had passed away from his horrific injuries,” a Sheriff’s Office press release said.
The Arizona Game and Fish Service told officials the incident was highly unusual, with similar incidents occurring in the mid-1980s.
Officials are stunned, as there was nothing at the scene that would inevitably attract the bear.
“At first glance, there seemed to be nothing at the scene that could cause a major accident.[n] “Bear attacks on access to food, kitchens and water,” the sheriff’s office said.
Officials with the Arizona Game and Fish Service believe the bear’s aggression was a “predatory response,” but the cause is unknown.
“My deepest condolences to the Jackson family,” Sheriff David Rose said in a statement. “Words cannot express how sad this situation is and all I can say is our prayers are with you all.”
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident.
Authorities have urged residents not to shoot bears unless they perceive an imminent threat.
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