CINCINNATI (AP) – The killing of a 400-pound gorilla to save a little boy who had slipped into the animal’s enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo has triggered outrage, second-guessing and a police investigation into whether the youngster’s family did anything wrong.
Some have been quick to blame the 3-year-old’s mom, while others think the zoo needs to be held accountable since the child managed to get around its barriers. Cincinnati police are investigating the family, while federal inspectors will review the zoo.
Here are some questions and answers about the investigations:
Q: What are police looking at?
A: Police say they are focusing on the actions of the boy’s mother and those who were with the family in the moments when the boy got into the enclosure by climbing over a railing, walking through bushes and plummeting into a moat 15 feet below. Prosecutors will ultimately decide whether to file charges.