WBZ News reported on Monday that video captured the moment Massachusetts State Police shot and killed a “highly aggressive” escaped bull that had caused a multi-vehicle crash on a busy highway.
The 1,300-pound black bull had been loaded for transport to the slaughterhouse when it became “enraged” and escaped, crashing through multiple fences at Matthew Farm. WBZ NewsThe escaped bull then ran onto Interstate 495, causing three crashes and sending one driver to the hospital, WBZ News reported. (Related article: Bull causing major transport delays seized; origin of animal remains unknown)
Slaughter-bound bull shot dead by police after escaping onto Massachusetts highway https://t.co/G7XcNMJOFm
— WBZ | CBS News Boston (@wbz) August 12, 2024
Local residents Colleen Campbell and Alex McCarthy discovered the bull on their horse farm, according to WBZ News.
“The bull just stood there looking at us and we turned around and said, 'Wow, bull, wow,'” Campbell told the outlet. “We were so close to the bull that we realized this isn't someone's bull, this is a missing bull, this is not normal, we're going to have to call the police.”
Mr McCarthy added: “I took a closer look and it was just a big bull. It's certainly not something you see around here every day.”
Before police arrived on the scene, the bull ran into the woods and took a bath in Lake Nippeniket, according to WBZ News.
The video shows the cow spotting the farm workers and police on the shore and charging at them, prompting the officer to shoot the cow several times.
“The shots were ineffective in stopping the bull,” Raynham Police Lt. Peter Beatrice told WBZ News. “In an effort to avoid injuring the charging bull, the officers fired several more deadly shots, striking the bull in the legs, which immobilized the bull and prevented further injury.”
The farmer was forced to euthanize the bull due to its injuries, according to WBZ News.
“He was having fun and it's a bit disappointing that it ended that way but I can understand why the police did it,” McCarthy told the outlet.
