Cincinnati Zoo Parents May Be Charged in Connection to Gorilla Shooting

The fallout from this weekend’s tragic shooting at the Cincinnati Zoo continues.

Michelle Gregg and Deonne Dickerson

As previously documented, and as depicted in the video below, a four-year old boy fell into the gorilla enclosure at this famous facility on Saturday, May 28.

After the gigantic animals grabbed hold of the boy and started thrashing him about, officials were left with no choice but to have an employee fatally shoot the gorilla, who was 17 years old and named Harambe.

Was the animal protecting the toddler? Hurting him? About to cause him real harm?

Watch the surveillance footage and try to decipher for yourself:

Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Killed to Save Toddler’s Life: Who’s to Blame?

Debate has raged all over the Internet in regard to the incident, with critics wondering why the zoo could not simply use a tranquilizer on the gorilla.

The zoo has responded by saying the tranquilizer would have taken too long to go into effect.

Others have placed the blame squarely at the feet of the boy’s parents, specifically his mother, Michelle Gregg.

In response to the criticism she has received online, Gregg posted (and then deleted) a Facebook message that referred to the situation as an “accident” and which thanked God for keeping her son safe.

Celebrities from all walks of entertainment life have also weighed in on the death of Harambe:


View Slideshow: Harambe Mourned, Celebrated by Celebrities Everywhere

Now, sources have confirmed that Cincinnati police are looking into Gregg and Deonne Dickerson, the boy’s father, even though the latter was not at the zoo when his son fell into the gorilla pit.

Authorities are reportedly reviewing “the actions of the parents/family that led up to the incident,” according to TMZ, implying they may be charged with the crime of negligence.

Do you think they ought to be?

Or was this just a very unfortunate accident that has taken on a life of its own due to the Internet?

An insider also says the Zoo is NOT under investigation of any kind.

It falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Agriculture.


TheHollywoodGossip