Victim in suspected Largo gator attack was warned before to stay out of water

The News Channel 8 Team presents the latest information on the events of the day and timely updates on local sports, weather conditions and traffic issues.

[@rc3291]

Some people learn by watching, some by listening. Others have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

[@garygerard4290]

RC, you have a way with words I'd have been a bit more direct: he learned what he needed to learn

[@lovingpurrs8388]

And you are a Jesus Christ Bible believer as any prisoner

[@virginiapurvis3917]

🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@lovingpurrs8388]

@@virginiapurvis3917 virginia not everyone can count food stamps and rent free like you

[@conniewolf7300]

😂

[@greysky5381]

It’s not the alligators fault. People should stay out of their territory, if not they will get attacked

[@Cobra85291]

A gators going ti gator. Just leave them alone.

[@studiosinger]

It’s not punishing the gators, it’s safety.

[@studiosinger]

I bet you are all for killing innocent children in and outside the womb to think like that. Regardless, you would never think to say “it’s not the babies fault they’re being born…”.

[@davidsiracuse6672]

👍I agree

[@tylerk4641]

@@studiosinger alligators are everywhere in Florida. Everywhere with any type of water ( lakes, rivers, swamps, retention ponds, you name it etc) so people need to deal with it. If you can't handle alligators move back up north.

[@UTAH100]

Almost happened to me. I didn't know better and was casually walking around a nature reserve at dusk, alone in S. Fl. It was a narrow walkway with gators on either side and in the very nearby swampy brush. I was not in the water, but they had a clear line to me. When I got home I realized what I had done. Many eyes were on me during that walk. At the time, I just thought it was cool. I also never realized how fast they can sprint for short distances- faster than I can run.

[@heatherwilliams2565]

A nature reserve at dusk, and u knew gators were there and you didn't know better?

[@UTAH100]

@@heatherwilliams2565 Honestly no. I was young and super excited to be in Fl. My enthusiasm easily over rode my instinct of self-preservation. I also figured since it was some type of park, they would not put a boardwalk through the swamp if it was not safe. In hindsight, it was not safe! At any given time I saw many alligators not very far away. I figured thousands of tourist do the same so my odds were OK. Nothing happened but next time, I will be more careful- only go when there are other people around. Sometimes when you get caught up in the moment you do dumb things.

[@heatherwilliams2565]

@@UTAH100 well at least you enjoyed it. It did sound peaceful in a way lol

[@UTAH100]

@@heatherwilliams2565 Thanks. It was. I love getting out in nature. I summited Half Dome but it was a traffic jam- same with Angels Landing at Zion, NP earlier this year. One other time I felt solitude was at Vail, CO. I was the last person on top of the mountain. It had just snowed and I literally had the entire top of the mountain to myself. I took my time skiing down., smiling all the way.

[@ponylovermadden4560]

@@heatherwilliams2565 yeah call him out you bully. To each his own.

[@AFAskygoddess]

I live in Florida. I have been a professional scuba diver for 25 years and have enjoying doing shark dives around the globe. But NOTHING would make me want to go into a lake anywhere in Florida. Not even dead drunk and tripping on magic mushrooms, even if I knew the exact location of one ton of gold sitting in the bottom of the lake.

[@josekatheone4806]

Are crocs worst than sharks!? I’m scared of Both, so I’m really curious about it

[@brookebar21]

@@josekatheone4806 most definitely. But this video is about an alligator, not a croc. Close! But some pretty important differences between the two

[@dorothybrown8859]

I hear ya!

[@Nebulation]

same. I surf alot in “shark shallows”, but I have nightmares about alligators.

[@MM-jf1me]

​@@josekatheone4806 Sharks usually attack humans thinking we are another type of prey animal or out of curiosity (is this food? yes.); crocs and gators will actively hunt humans.

[@susanstyles9147]

Let's clarify this mess: he's not a killer gator. It's mating season and was probably a bull alligator doing what he's supposed to do. He didn't walk to the dude's place or encampment and kill him. Idiot went into the water, gator defended his territory

[@donnam5060]

And they go hunting a gator doing what gators do, because a stupid human didn't stay out of the gators home when told to. 🙄

[@whatifschrodingersboxwasacofin]

@@donnam5060 And they take 2 innocent animals with home waters and toss them somewhere completely unknown to them, likely in ‘taken territory’.

[@TheSkete]

@@whatifschrodingersboxwasacofin - Those 'gators are DEAD. They euthanize them, split them open, and check for human remains. That's how they determine if they were involved or not.

[@jeanmariebuzan8851]

@@whatifschrodingersboxwasacofin And I bet there is signs everywhere And no by the Sound of it they killed it or both gator's.

[@flgirl250]

@@jeanmariebuzan8851 they killed both gators for no reason at all.

[@bodhi8260]

I hate it when people go into wildlife areas and then complain about the wildlife.

[@MeadowDay]

I so agree, everyone complaining the deer are eating their flowers in Texas!…so deer “permanently removed” If you don’t like animals snakes gators spiders…stay in the frikin cities!

[@ElementofKindness]

People do this for everything. Move into a crowded neighborhood and complain about neighbors. Move next to an airport, and complain about airport activity noise. People are generally just shitty all around.

[@michaeld5888]

Sort of like when the rich townies cash in and move to a village in England. They will try to shut down the church bell peal which has been a tradition for hundreds of years, the cock crowing in the morning and find the local homeless people priced out of the housing market a bit of a nuisance.

[@BillyBob-op6lg]

Fk those gators they should shoot them all

[@wasidanatsali6374]

Kill all them gators in that lake. 🐊☠️ Someone was attacked by a gator and survived at that same park last year. The South is infested with gators now. Gators have recovered so well they’re the poster child of the endangered species act. Killing a few gators that have prob been fed and habituated by humans at a popular rec park will have zero affect on the gator pop. The thing about feeding apex predators is, it’s never enough. They always want more.

[@Pinkheartbwell]

May he rest in peace. So sad that out of desperation he needed to do this.

[@soxfan]

dangerous snakes and gators....signs are all over. beware!

[@dcc2351]

The people who payed that poor desperate man to get the stupid discs for them have blood on their hands. They should be ashamed of themselves. RIP poor Shawn!!! God bless you!!!

[@daniellem2992]

So true. I was thinking the same thing. Who would pay him to do that and risk his safety. Very sad and inhumane.

[@Jackoff-mz8zi]

I once told a blacker there was no gators in that water.

[@nysaxman]

People didn't necessarily have to pay the man to retrieve the discs. He could have retrieved them on his own, then went to the area where people played with the discs, and sold them to anyone interested in buying.

[@consciousobserver629]

I could never pay a homeless man (or ANYONE) to go into alligator-infested waters. He was driven to it because the man had nothing. Sad as hell.

[@normacook8325]

Thank you. My feeling exactly!

[@moses8910]

It seems like he was getting the discs on his own then given their value, selling them

[@gprang]

I couldn't either. That's why we need a government-sponsored program for homeless disc-diving.

[@saminaneen]

@@gprang People like YOU, join HATE GROUPS,, People join these groups because they’re searching for an identity, a community, and a sense of purpose. And there’s some grievance, some underlying trauma or abuse or brokenness underneath all that. Could be mental illness, could be lack of employment or lack of an education. That’s why they become vulnerable to the messages and the narratives of these extremist groups. Because they are looking for somebody to blame for the problems that they have, and they’re not equipped to deal with them.

[@sheilanoble269]

When people are desperate, they will do ANYTHING for money. This man was obviously in serious need. Bless his soul.

[@1fastmex]

First I wanted to judge but then hearing he was homeless doing it for money is unfortunate. Whoever was paying him to do so should understand what he was setting him up for

[@jeanmariebuzan8851]

gators. They knew why they wouldn't go in.that water ..And I bet that guy got what 5 or 10 dollars to lose his life ..Shame on the Rich people .Who don't care

[@Sam-xu3xq]

@@sun77711 He was working for his money. Not begging

[@jimhanty8149]

Well he ain’t homeless no more.. gator fixed that …. maybe Florida could sell some of the gators that do this to California . It would help reduce the homeless population and spare some of the gators being murdered for nothing ….only for doing what’s natural , eating less than smart prey. We have to many people that shouldn’t be here evidentially..

[@jimhanty8149]

@@Sam-xu3xq not any more.. but maybe they can talk some of the “ teens” you see on the news every nite down there ,to go disc fishing too. Yea, that would be a great thing…

[@gaygachad8305]

​@@sun77711 he is much more active than the coders and shopkeepers and will probably end u in a real fight , he was a better man

[@debbiebowles7001]

So sorry this happened to this man and the community.

[@randallsharpe7651]

When working as a diver I worked in Greencove Spring's FL every once in a while. When I would put a tugboat on the railway I would have to use 12 inch wooden blocks to keep the boat stable. Every once in a while after ascending to the top I would see the biggest Alligator I've ever seen in my life floating on the top of the water right beside me. If he decided to take a bite he would have got half of my body. I was 250lbs in very good shape so I was not a small guy at all. But, he never did make any attempt to attack me at all as I would be reaching distant floating beside each other until the tugboat were complete out of the water. It didn't bother me at all bc it comes with the job working as a commercial diver. Oo what a lucky man I was. Be careful bc the wild life are vary unpredictable. The best advice I can tell you is to safe as possible remain calm, don't panic and make the best of it Amen

[@guadalupebaptista9757]

Don't blame the gators for what comes naturally. It's understandable that he made his living retrieving stuff from the lake, and he continued to disregard the warnings. But alligators shouldn't be killed because of a stubborn human continuously going into the lake, despite warnings. Now about the people feeding the gators, and making them unafraid of humans, well.....

[@lovingpurrs8388]

Stubborn human? A homeless hungry human working to get a cent by risking his life Let me guess you are god child get food stamps Met god in prison lucky not to be homeless thanks to our taxes You would never work for a piece of bread as this man

[@KickingAssDaily]

You never eaten alligator.

[@donutdan1508]

They do it to try to recover the human remains.

[@lilphilosophy481]

Gator kebab 🍢 😋

[@MrSirwolf2001]

One of two things usually happens to the gators in a removal. #1 the gator is removed and set free...if it just showed up there and hasn't caused issues and there is not a local overpopulation...which happens but is kind of rare. I think that Disney World did that with a few of the gators in their lakes and waterways, except the one that killed the 2 yo little boy. #2 Kill it If it killed or injured a person, or it has become a "problem child". This could be State or Local wildlife agencies/officers or local contracted hunters. Stomach contents may need to be examined for human remains. Do you want to know how officers are sure that the two caught in this report were not the one that killed the man? Stomach contents. Gator farms are a thing and have been for years. Gator Tail Steak is a real and quite delicious thing as well.

[@Summit2012]

He was warned and made his own informed decision. Sorry it cost him dearly, but that was his decision.

[@lamar310]

Best comment and accurate...not much we can do when an adult decides to do something stupid after a warning. No sympathy from me

[@gringofilet474]

That's what I heard a sociopath say.

[@alextogo8367]

No need to be sorry for an idiot

[@muntadar1655]

@@gringofilet474 what's your point

[@Readysetgo2007]

Someone paid him money to retrieve those frisbees or what you call them. So it was a desperate decision of a homeless guy.

[@teresayates8274]

My parents have lived in largo for nearly 30 yrs. EVERYBODY knows not to swim in that lake. He was told this many times, he knew better. Now their dragging the animal out of their home because of one moron that got himself killed. It's amazing the damage that one idiot can cause!

[@pamelamurray4741]

I live in Florida. I even see the big boys in the bay. It's not just the fresh water ponds and lakes. They'll be in the bays and gulf as well. Although not as likely to be attacked in saltwater it pays to be very aware of your surroundings in Florida.

[@pamelamurray4741]

Also the people paying him to do that hold some responsibility as well.

[@yawningpheonix]

I wish all headlines were like this. "Man shot after being told multiple times to back the fuck up."

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

Becareful what you wish for. You just might get it, and that doesn't necessarily imply it will be witness to it happening to someone else. Your mind only judges what it doesn't understand.

[@WillyLee23]

There was some teens doing the same thing at one of my local parks- retrieving discs from the large pond in the park that is also the home of a 10 ft gator that recently moved in. I’ve given them a friendly warning, but they don’t seem to care. Gators generally aren’t a problem, but they will get aggressive during mating/nesting season.

[@Sealust50]

Color them gone - the teens

[@ericstubbs6254]

Those teens are playing with their lives for sure

[@haylobos8261]

Gators will eat you if you get too close. You are an eddy yacht.

[@Jdaminbf4]

Recently moved in? Did he walk around introducing to neighbors? Invited people over for a cookout? Got a mortgage on a home?

[@sicnarf6971]

@@Jdaminbf4 dude… his ex-wife got the last lake after the divorce.. didn’t you hear?

[@shonuff515]

True story: June of 2021, me and my family booked a air bnb trip from Newark, NJ to Kissimmee, FL at a resort that had a big body of water behind it. The water looked to be clean, not too deep, and honestly I thought about jumping in. THEN, reality kicked in and said “Fool, don’t get your ass in that water! You have a whole pool to swim in anyway.” No more than a minute later, I see 2 eyes floating towards me slowly. Once it got closer, I see it’s about a 6foot gator. Thank God I didn’t get my ass in that water. 😂

[@brandimeeks2823]

They just told you the man was homeless and getting disc's out to eat, guess he didn't care if he died, sad but the poor man got out of his pain.😢😢

[@stevenryle5709]

I've lived in Florida most of my life (71) and it amazes me how "snow birds" act around the wildlife. Year after year someone buys a lakefront home with shade trees near the waters edge. They tie out their family dog so it can enjoy the lake view and shade. Gator ends up enjoying the dog for a snack. A woman had some shade trees in her back yard. Nice day she put her toddler in the playpen, not too close to the lake's edge but close enough for the gator to see the kid in the playpen. She heard the baby screaming and got there just in time as the gator collapsed the side of the playpen.

[@bigd9848]

Unreal 🤷🏼‍♂️They should know that you never do anything like that.A dog has been eaten many times.A baby no way keep it in the house 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@joeysausage3437]

Kind of like my home in Pennsylvania. Dumb people from Florida come up and feed bears, coons and the list goes on. And when something happens they cry like babies. Stay in Florida.

[@saminaneen]

@@bigd9848 Feeling like you need to pee during sex could also indicate that you're about to vomit. Before you cut and run to the Mexican restaurant , consider waiting it out a bit-as long as you are loving the pain, of yo boy, Michael Obama

[@lakegeneva1068]

I was sitting on a bench at a state park in the Appalachicola National Forest one morning. 4 small children were playing at the waters edge, and 4 women were sitting on a blanket together, too far away. Suddenly, 1 woman started yelling and pointing, I looked and saw a gator making a straight, fast beeline across the swimming area bouy rope, right for the children! I jumped up yelling GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT and running down there as fast as I could while they ran to grab the kids! Gator went under. And if you think the park rangers cared, better think again.

[@patrickshea5955]

LOL the guy wasn't a snowbird he was a local homeless person

[@dylanb2086]

At first I was thinking he was a fool for not heading warnings. But pretty sad - it was his way to make money, taking a risk others wouldn’t take. Life can be tough sometimes. RIP

[@kaeblesstv5335]

Gator: this was a home invasion,I got my wife n kids to protect

[@HondaRidea]

Imagine dying for a frisbee

[@phattdaddy2974]

I lived in Florida for 10 years 25 years ago and the one thing I learned is, you don’t tempt them. I’ve had a few close encounters myself and I gave them all the respect they are due. It’s a fact that a gator will eventually turn up in any body of water, i.e. a small cow wallow out in the middle of NOWHERE, more specifically between Arcadia and Sebring. Who’da thunk?

[@vex1606]

Same I got chase by one lol

[@sunnydaze2359]

@@vex1606 i’m surprised at that because gators are not dangerous out of the water. I’ve been near them A few times & know that they are basically only dangerous if you go into their territory.

[@vex1606]

@@sunnydaze2359 well I was by the water and I didn't see it at first until I saw bubbles lol then he went out the water and boom started running at me

[@VelveteenRabbit77]

Gators are killing machines. They will lunge at you from the water! Please dont say they are safe.

[@abstraqtphilosophy7357]

Most Americans think Africans live with wild animals. But here we are, it's really the Americans that are living with wild animals as their next door neighbors😅

[@tommymorano7254]

I hate when animals are killed because some dumbass human does something stupid, it happens out west with bears.

[@auto_5]

The second biggest atrocity here is the fact that those rubber discs can go for $10-$50.

[@willy565]

So sick of Gators being killed for human stupidity.

[@Ascension1004]

I was prepared to laugh and mock this man, but people will do foolish things out of desperation. I'm so sorry that he felt this was his only opportunity to make money.

[@FlatlandMando]

And he was wrong in thinking that. There must be many jobs in his area with a better risk to benefits ratio. Maybe he loved the thrill & the commentary leveled at him when he got a disc back& git oaid in cash! For brief moments he could be that "crazy hero" who brought the discs back from the gators. (That's how I understand this guy)

[@tiffanyeyoung1800]

There are plenty of homeless people with way more sense. This was just stupid

[@danielcaughlan8188]

Must be earning good money to get in their hey can't believe people are so stupid hope no you v kids seen him being killed spose alligator would of just grabbed him and dived deep wouldn't be much trashing around on top of the water to break him up as he'd be soft enough to just chew up alligator would of just went down deep instantly what a way to die hey actually turned into fertilizer alligator fertilizer

[@Deno2100]

@@FlatlandMando The FED said they are trying to create 6-10% unemployment in order to stop inflation. On top of that, all unemployment is created on purpose by the government. Its the only way to keep labor down and keep people desperate. He isnt the victim of an innocent alligator. He is the victim of an evil empire.

[@heatherwilliams2565]

@@tiffanyeyoung1800 well said

[@chrisedmonds4022]

From Virginia moved to Orlando bn here 15yrs I’ll never forget when I was running off of Tradeport I heard something hissing looked over in this ditch and there was a 10ft alligator I’ve never ran so fast in my life.

[@streamofconsciousness5826]

Imagine having to be told twice.....

[@PickleRick65]

Darwin award... That's just natural selection at work...said the gator...

[@greg33770]

I walk at this park frequently for years, never ever had i had a problem with the gators, and I never ever saw anyone feeding the gators,....but I did see the guy out there, getting disc's regularly and so do the regulars who walk the park.....there are plenty of gator warning/swimming and wading prohibited signs, we would just shake our heads in disbelief like many when they see him in the water.....

[@MH-bb4fl]

So maybe you could answer this. Was the man collecting the discs to resell them or would he go in at the request of a person for a few dollars?

[@greg33770]

@@MH-bb4fl when I saw him, he was in there usually alone, after a busy weekend, like on a Monday or Tuesday, in waste deep 10 to 20 feet from shore, sometimes I'd see the disc players talking to him, but I can't verify that they told him or asked him to go....he did retrieve a few when I watched him, apparently the disc's sink, and yes he would resell them.....they weren't floating....

[@MH-bb4fl]

@@greg33770 thanks for your reply. I can't imagine risking life or limb for a few bucks but I guess I'm also lucky enough that I haven't been there.

[@greg33770]

@@MH-bb4fl it is a very nice county park, the disc course is only a small part of it, I find the wildlife to be interesting, took many a great video and pic here....take a look at my channel you'll see some.

[@MH-bb4fl]

@@greg33770 I did watch a few videos on your channel just now. How far is Taylor Park from where you live? There's clearly enough signage to keep me out of that water. I live walking distance from saguaro National Park. You can really see some neat wildlife if desert scenery is your thing.

[@lizf3325]

This is more of an economic tragedy than about the gator “problem”. That club never should have paid a homeless man to do something that no one would do unless seriously desperate!

[@blue_anemone]

Not all money is good money I will steal 1st

[@TheEpic408]

I don't think the club was paying him. He was most likely selling them to other players.

[@nancywutzke5392]

The club didn't pay him. He was doing it on his own. Blame much?

[@Jdaminbf4]

Economic tragedy? Did the stock market crash after this?

[@blue_anemone]

@@Jdaminbf4 ok, i agree that he wasn't wise, but people really are struggling. Those things can both be true.

[@cr-qo3ov]

You know it's amazing how ignorant people actually are the guy was warned and warned but the gator has to be removed or killed because it's acting like a gator it just amazes me when wild animals attack people and they know they're in the area it's the animals at fault there should be a crime against stupidity

[@kapilchhabria1727]

Absolutely no one talk about how we have virtually no support system for the homeless population of the country.

[@timothygu3]

I lived in Ft Myers 15 yrs ago. I remember when a groundskeeper for a golf course jumped into some waters to cool off after work on a hot day. Same thing happened to him. It’s sad but people know better and still do it, that’s on them.

[@sunnydaze2359]

Some people even let their dogs swim in the lake. 🙄🙄

[@dinoflagella4185]

Don’t feed the gators.

[@latiffanyclaybron2339]

@@broombromden498 😭

[@pamelasmith6221]

@@sunnydaze2359 I don’t know how people can not have concern and common sense for their pets. I will never understand that. My kids and my pets safety always comes first and I’m always in protective and care mode.

[@TW---]

Just to clarify MANY of the comments here: 2 alligators were KILLED and gutted. Not "removed" or "relocated". And neither had anything to do with the "attack".

[@natedawg1007]

I was would like to explain that the Alligator population is over the max capacity at the lake. Everyone’s fine with killing deer to maintain the population control, don’t see why people care about alligators lol I’m of the opinion of wiping them from the Earth so I don’t have to be scared of em anymore

[@TW---]

@@natedawg1007 You know this how? You counted the # of gators? What exactly is the # of gators allowed in a lake this size? Fear what you don't understand. The mantra of stupid people. I know, the world's a scary place for some people. Just stay inside. It'll be beneficial for all of us.

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

How do you know that? Or are you just making blanket statements? And besides, what is wrong with any of that if that were to have happened with the gators?

[@TW---]

@@highvibefreqzshow5967 I live next to this park. Thought I was pretty specific. Not exactly a "blanket statement". The gators' were not acting irresponsibly but were killed because of a humans stupidity. If you can't see what's wrong with that, you lack moral empathy. You have no business interacting with nature. Please stay inside from now on.

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

​@@TW--- You said the aligators were "killed" and "gutted." How do you know this? If you do not know this is the case with the gators that were removed, which you contradicted yourself by saying they were "not removed" but then went on to say they were killed and gutted. So, were they killed and gutted on the spot and their bodies still laying there? If you don't know that directly for yourself then it is a blanket statement. The information about you living next the park is meaningless and has nothing to do with knowing what you claim to know but perhaps you don't really know and are not being forthright, honest, and sincere in your statements. Living next to the park doesn't make a blanket state more true. What's wrong with just being sincere? What's so valuable in your perhaps imagining something you don't know that you can't admit to it and just let it be what it actually is?

[@sylviaj270]

The people that paid him to retrieve something from that water are terrible people. He made the choice but, to give a poor person an incentive like that is horrific. Now they can retrieve their own $#!+ or do what they should have done all along (consider it a loss).

[@jerrypolverino6025]

The stupidity of some people is astounding.

[@benvasilinda9729]

Gator did nothing wrong and this homeless man didn’t either. He found a way to survive and it was dangerous and cost him his life unfortunately. I live in North Florida and we have gators everywhere here. It’s just a part of life. I’m a military vet, I own a tree business and I’m very aware of my hazardous jobs but I also like to live on my own terms.

[@nikiyubari8410]

It still amazes me that you guys live with gators in your hometown.

[@Mysasser1]

@@nikiyubari8410 it's the same in Louisiana

[@ElricWilliam]

What? That homeless guy was playing fire...or in this case a gator...What did you really expect to happen of course its the homeless guys own dumb fault. Theres jobs with risks sure but this was...well frankly this was just darwin slimming down the herd.

[@r1verman]

It'd sad for this man that was obviously desperate to make money, but he was warned. Don't punish the animals for doing what they do. This is their turf and they've been here a long time.

[@helenburke9507]

That’s so true but when too many are in 1 place- right ur wrong it is dangerous for people n pets. I don’t abide killing or hurting animals but safety is first!!

[@optimusdimegatron1297]

get a job?

[@joestalin5303]

What happened to a hand job behind the dumpster for a quick buck. Damn the World is going crazy

[@nancyj.ellington6407]

Guy was an idiot. What an awful price to pay. He obviously didn't care about his family.

[@ascent8487]

Thank you for having a modicum of humanity! A lot of these commenters don’t seem to think the loss of life deserves a bit of respect. Shame on them. God is watching. But yes, I agree the gators should not be punished.

[@Dude_Diligence]

I feel bad that he was homeless. Mental issues? Down on his luck? It's on him for getting into the water - despite being warned it was only a matter of time before a gator would attack. I still feel bad about it all.

[@mathew3267]

Next up on Channel 8: Man warned to wear parachute before plane jumping.

[@dand3eee]

Of course someone else will say "it's not worth his life", but let's be clear; not homeless either. Someone was giving the homeless dude money for what he was retrieving. When you're desperate common sense can fly out the window. Absolutely heartbreaking that this man saw this as his only option to survive and I'm shocked people can be so cold about it.

[@1amNumberOne]

Rite..it was worth it to him because that's how he ate....well....

[@waterbird91]

Whoever gave that homeless dude the money should be held accountable. Homeless people don't always have the abilities to think straight. And the homeless dude should have known better as well.

[@Readysetgo2007]

@@waterbird91 I think so too. That guy should get punishment for adult endangerment. That job that the homeless person got shouldn't even exist.

[@drowningin]

@@Readysetgo2007 wtf are you talking about. Every disc golf course around the country has lost & found discs. Every disc golf store also buys & sells them. Shouldn't exist cuz one homeless guy dies, stfu Karen. Talking about things you don't know karen

[@1amNumberOne]

@@waterbird91 NO....NOT AT ALL.... Do you think some guy was like.."NO..I ONLY WANT DISCS THAT CAME OUT OF THE GATOR POND"...How the fuck does ANYONE that plays golf know where this guy gets these discs from???your dumb ass just want everyone in jail huh???

[@ST-tn4vd]

I have seen him in the water before. One time there was a gator about 10 feet from him and he didn't seem bothered at all. The gator was pretty small though. I went to the park today and I saw that someone had nailed to the cross in the tree dedicated to him.😔💓

[@nancywutzke5392]

Awe that's so nice.

[@joshuarodriguez3072]

Ya me 2 bro

[@ScarlettAtl15]

We call that bait.

[@Johnsmith-fz2dm]

Darwinism.

[@pamelasmith6221]

A tree dedicated to him? 🤦🏻‍♀️ For being disrespectful and ignorant? Wow.

[@dawnserrano737]

Prayers.

[@jamie.777]

My mom always says, a stupid is, a stupid does....

[@theotheleo6830]

Well, he willingly took the risk despite being warned many times, so don't blame the gators.

[@btrotter4775]

The gators are dead.🤬

[@itsyooboii1464]

@@btrotter4775 We shall make beautiful leathered shoes out of their skin.

[@SkinniJ]

@@btrotter4775 Who gives an honest shit honestly.

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

There is no one or nothing to blame. Life happens, and the mind is foolish that it thinks it knows about life and yet doesn't seem to realize there is only a life and the mind cannot possibly be separate from life itself, and due to the self-ignorance of the mind it imagines it knows what it knows nothing about, and doesn't even know that it is only ever directly experienced as known but it is not the knower. The knower is that which is aware of the mind but isn't getting mixed up with the nonsense of the mind.

[@haylobos8261]

Who keeps deadly beasts in populated areas? Floriduh!

[@ImLisaMoore]

I was listening to a radio show and they were laughing about this. Never mentioned he did this for money. So sad someone could be so desperate for money to do this and the radio people laughed about it and made fun of him but never mentioned that fact. Sad, cold world we live in.

[@andrewk2324]

Radio people, a$$holes commenting here, feeling more sorry for the gators than the man that died. What a shitty world!!!

[@thesultanofsaltines921]

Ron White says "ya can't fix stupid". Alligators be like "Yes you can fix stupid!".

[@ademoss80]

That's like the idiot here in Texas got killed by an alligator outside of Burkarts Marina. Smh. Signs everywhere, hell even the bartender and servers tried to keep him from going in there. Decided the best time was after dark. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ First person in about 200 years to be killed by an alligator in Texas.

[@steemdup]

Why should the killer gator be removed from the lake, or any other alligators? Alligators are wild animals, and hunting prey is what they do. The culpable party is Mr McGuiness; he got into the water, and ignored all the warnings about STAYING OUT OF THE WATER. There are consequences for our actions, and Mr McGuiness chose to risk his life for a frisbee. Place the blame where it belongs - on the being who is supposed to be smarter than an animal.....

[@Respawnz]

ig u don't want them to see humans as a food source

[@radseed9802]

Because now they have a taste for people...that's why

[@JohnnytNatural]

Once a gator tastes human, it's now in their habitual state, it will see another human as food source

[@ukmedicfrcs]

@@JohnnytNatural LMAO then STAY away from them. My God, it's not that hard. You think the alligator is going to come knocking on your door? This isn't a far side comic.

[@jeffreywiley3654]

@@ukmedicfrcs I need a new wallet anyway.

[@anony-ic3pz]

When animals behave as animals, idiot humans end up taking revenge on them. May the homeless person RIP.

[@katalac]

😔

[@Zaa-up4hg]

Boo woo a alligator died big deal

[@liamjohnson2474]

@Tropical Shepherd He was just homeless scum warned not to be an IDIOT.

[@dakmycat3688]

No he may not rest in Peace more like pieces. He played the game he knew. The gator is who I’m worried about it did nothing wrong.

[@saminaneen]

@@Zaa-up4hg Feeling like you need to pee during sex could also indicate that you're about to vomit. Before you cut and run to the Mexican restaurant , consider waiting it out a bit-as long as you are loving the pain, of yo boy, Michael Obama

[@amyquinn9609]

That’s sad..

[@erichhaenitsch1709]

When u dont listen ... But I really want to know whose bright idea was to put a Frisbee golf course next to a gator swamp... Is it because it's elegant?

[@ponygirlusa]

So the wrong gator was euthanized??? That is just sickening.

[@jeremymetcalf2502]

There's only one logical way FWC found out that the two gators they retrieved were innocent. I guaruntee you they didn't anesthetize them (waste money) and pump their stomachs.

[@avalonjustin]

Didn't even get a fair trial.

[@RacecarSpelledBackwards71]

Hopefully the gators will get a fair trial in this case. The ‘stand your ground’ defense should work.

[@saminaneen]

@@SusanKay- Feeling like you need to pee during sex could also indicate that you're about to vomit. Before you cut and run to the Mexican restaurant , consider waiting it out a bit-as long as you are loving the pain, of yo boy, Michael Obama

[@amdee305]

If he was warned for his own safety and still goes in just let the gators eat him.

[@sarashaw6549]

This is why you have to listen when you are warned 🙄

[@lauruhhh]

STOP BLAMING WILD ANIMALS FOR PEOPLE’S ACTIONS!!! Those gaters have more right to be there than anyone, we’re going into their spaces and don’t know how to respect nature. The entitlement is SICKENING.

[@deniseabrams7212]

Fact's 💯💯💯

[@bkin3086]

kill all gators!

[@calallen8786]

Only reason why they took them out since it a city park.. it got playground next to it. They should've moved gator to other lake where there no human around

[@lauruhhh]

Don’t build a city park next to any body of water in Florida; common sense 101. Imagine being an alligator and surviving the extinction event that killed off dinosaurs… only to be killed off by a species that won’t even last the next 200 years thanks to our own dumbass entitlement 😒 See y’all in hell. I hate it here.

[@avalonjustin]

@@calallen8786 It's like putting a sign that says "Danger! Tall cliff ahead!" before the edge of a cliff. Who are they going to blame if some idiot disregards the sign and falls off? Gravity?

[@vicO1323]

Once you step into the water you're no longer the top predator.

[@lambsquad_9047]

Poor guy. Literally.

[@jamesghiorzoe107]

I live in South Florida near a large pond and I stay at least 15 feet from the edge of the water when outside.

[@christinajames8882]

Whom ever was willing to pay this man to go into the water- you are a vile human being.

[@HoodAdventures]

Exactly!!

[@jamespresnell9187]

No one was paying him he probably did this too many times and thought it wouldn't happen, but sadly it did. there's a lot of disc that goes too far out of bounds. Some are.chrap and I personally have seen disc that were $60.

[@HoodAdventures]

@@jamespresnell9187 then what was he doing collecting the disc out of the lake, someone had to have been paying him. You said some go for $60 so someone was paying the guy.

[@TxMx214]

Look at the end of the day I could pay you to commit murder-it’s only how stupid you are to do it. Or to like jumó off a bridge, don’t blame the payer….blame the idiot that went into the water. He was warned one too many times. No warning needed-the gators are there!! His own fault. No one cares.

[@whatthat150]

He was prolly taking them to a pawn shop that has no idea, or the people he sells em to he's not going to say he got them free from a gator infested lake, otherwise the buyer wouldn't want to pay as much from his perspective even if he did have a buyer. That simple, you could blame this on poverty if you wanted to;. The persons on the street could have seen it as helping someone out and not knowing how they were acquired. So you really can't assume any buyer was a vile human, we're all human And not perfect.

[@janettheado8153]

It's not a killer gator...he is a wild animal doing what gators do

[@dinoflagella4185]

Alligators usually avoid people... unless they’ve been fed. Then they become dangerous because they lose their fear of humans. Even the wildlife wranglers said the alligators must have been fed by people. So yeah, it’s human stupidity that got the homeless man killed and the gators have to suffer for it. Don’t feed the gators folks.

[@Donny34738]

“Idc what goes in there” till her 6 year old falls in lmao

[@rickramirez3235]

Why did they call the gator a a killer gator. He's not a killer he's a hunter in his own habitat

[@bluetickfreddy101]

Back in 80’s i moved to south Florida as a early 20 year old from calif. I would swim in my uncles community pond regularly. I was totally clueless to the potential dangers. No ever said a word to me. Just lucky to have survived i guess. Cheers

[@exelmans8855]

I mean this is Florida… maybe your uncles didn’t like you that much.

[@mrgallagher7072]

@@exelmans8855 😂 🐊🐊🐊

[@rebootresetrevolution7904]

The neighbors were probably watching you saying “look at this guy”.

[@columbusohio72]

They were recording

[@subtropicalpermaculture]

They were fairly endangered at that time.. not as many as now . They used to kill them all in developed areas .. Especially the big ones..

[@thrash208]

As a Canadian i find this sort of thing terrifying. Where i live lakes are safe for the most part theres nothing inside that could kill you other than the water itself. I guess i shouldnt take ot for granted being able to just swim in a lake gator free.

[@lexyjane1]

for a few days of the year lol

[@ems901]

@@lexyjane1 having seasons makes you appreciate each season. I think 5 months of swim time outside is just fine for a safe environment.

[@HuplesCat]

Beavers can attack if you get close.

[@lonknight3197]

Canada is too cold for gators but you do have grizzles bears that can attack on land or shallow water.

[@dextermorgan1]

Ha! You have no idea what's in those lakes. I know for a fact you all have a few different "lake monsters" in Canada. They're very real and look like plesiousaurs. Yes, I'm serious. I'm also right. If you don't know what talking about, you've obviously never looked. Stay out of the water. Period.

[@tahoebum]

They should show a picture of what the guy looked like afterwards as a deterrence.

[@tzerpa9446]

Poor man. He was trying to earn a living. It's sad when society leads people to the point they need to risk their lives just to survive.

[@courtneyjohnson7341]

I feel so sorry for gators, they do what gators do and then have humans come for them and drag them off to be relocated or killed. Seeing that poor gator that was caught being dragged off somewhere…it makes me so sad 😞.

[@lindagarris7861]

It's not fair to the gator - he wasn't supposed to be in there. But a homeless person is probably depressed & DNC

[@urbanurchin5930]

Alligators have no "feelings" - don't get all wrapped-up in this idiotic notion that they had hurt feelings. They operate on instinct - like a bug or a lobster. The fool that decided to risk his life just gambled and lost - - no sympathy for stupid people.

[@courtneyjohnson7341]

@@urbanurchin5930 no, I absolutely don’t feel bad at all for the guy, I was saying, whether alligators notice it or not, that I feel bad for them. I don’t like to ever see them hauled off or disrupted because of stupid humans.

[@baboytablo5735]

sadly humans or doing what humans naturally do aswell so either way no one wins

[@obbalad]

Humanly behavior

[@oscrthgrch7]

"Some people, if they don't already know something, you can't tell 'em." - Yogi Berra

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

That's due to their believing they already know something and are not open to learning anything else new, they think they know all there is to know about any given thing and won't hear of anything else. That isn't to say this guy was. Who can say what his thoughts were?

[@destinysadult8514]

@@highvibefreqzshow5967 I know people like that.

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

@@destinysadult8514 I'd be surprised to hear anyone say they don't know people like this. 😂🤣

[@tilasole3252]

That could of been anyone of us when the rent gets too high, we lost our job or medical bills of anyone of our family made us go in debt.

[@alxandercontreras]

Jamie has a rational perspective.

[@stephsweden5623]

"Apparently he's still out of there" Leave em' out there!

[@ricodarefcallingallfouls6624]

You have to respect the laws of the land here in Florida! Stay ya ass out the water!

[@tedtyson2838]

Why remove the gator? Genuinely confused. Someone explain

[@Ciara1594]

I'm sorry for the poor man but he should've listened. 🙄

[@kc1776]

The gator was in HIS HOME!!! I grew up at this park. There have ALWAYS been gators and people have been respectful and responsible!! How dare they kill those gators because of an idiot doing what idiots do. Case of fafo and it was well deserved. RIP gators.

[@canofanger]

Never been in a position of homelessness where you do whatever you can to get a few dollars.

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

The only idiot is the thought "idiot." Other than that there is no real idiot beyond the thought itself. That body of water is as much your "home" as it is the gator's.

[@rblack1219]

RIP 🐊🐊😢

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

Who said the gators were killed trappers generally relocate them

[@kc1776]

@@GeorgiaRidgerunner they said it in the first news report. They trapped and killed them to check stomachs and mouths for body parts.

[@jimh4375]

My condolences to Mr. McGinnis' family, however he was warned. There was a reason nobody else went into the water to get the disc.

[@michaelsrowland]

He was hungry

[@carrolabrams2659]

@@michaelsrowland ty for showing understanding compassion- many have not felt his desperation… nor can conjure empath for something they were blessed - to never endure

[@LB01334]

@@carrolabrams2659 right, i feel very sorry for the homeless man who was obviously desperate. you can tell there's a lot of stuck up snobs in the comments!

[@trianatymony3720]

Why in the hell would you have a community next to a lake like that And who the hell would live there 😞😞😞

[@Ciara1594]

I can imagine the gators saying, "Closer, closer hehehe!" 🐊

[@BlueTigerRunning]

I grew up near this park. My aunt literally lived across the street from this park. We all knew better than to even think to swim there or even go close to shore. There used to be warning signs there, so it's beyond belief that this man would think to go in this water. These gators were known to kill small dogs there also, so sad this had to happen.

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

It's not beyond belief that he would think to go in the water. Beliefs are only repetitive thoughts. He had the thought of going in the water. You had the thought to not go in the water. The thoughts only appear to be different on the surface which is superficial, there is no real difference if you look a bit more deeply beyond the appearances of the thoughts.

[@mrmrsgreen0927]

It's not sad 😂

[@sunnydaze2359]

@@highvibefreqzshow5967 Huh ? Oh yeah ok

[@rolandmeyer3729]

Stupid people who play stupid games...

[@CrimsonKingl2]

How is this sad?. Gators need to eat, well they ate and there is one less retard wasting oxygen. Win-win situation

[@whatifschrodingersboxwasacofin]

Imagine how desperate that poor man had to be to knowingly expose himself regularly to that risk just to get a few bucks. That’s the real issue.

[@AbundantGaby999]

His life choices are his life choices, if he willingly chooses to retrieve disks out of infested water to make just a few bucks, then I can already imagine the decisions he made when it came to his life

[@saminaneen]

@Bob Lazar People like YOU, join HATE GROUPS,, People join these groups because they’re searching for an identity, a community, and a sense of purpose. And there’s some grievance, some underlying trauma or abuse or brokenness underneath all that. Could be mental illness, could be lack of employment or lack of an education. That’s why they become vulnerable to the messages and the narratives of these extremist groups. Because they are looking for somebody to blame for the problems that they have, and they’re not equipped to deal with them.

[@btrotter4775]

Sorry, but there are other ways to make a buck. I'm sure no one is paying top dollar for a $10 disc.

[@wasidanatsali6374]

He was a homeless man. His mind probably wasn’t 100%. He found the only way he knew to cope with his situation. RIP

[@joeschmo7957]

No, of course it is not, The real issue, is indeed, the trapping and removing the animals that are not to blame. As she said, this is mating season. The gators are looking for females and this happens. You do not remove the other gators that had no issue. The gators came at you because of mother nature.

[@thomashaley1036]

His death was actually very suspicious. He always went in the water in the same spot, His body was found way over next to the spillover from what i was told. I lived off 8th in Largo. Also it was super early morning with no witnesses. I honestly

[@damonfontenot5244]

The people paying that dude to go in the water should go jail

[@techkingdata9338]

I've lived in Florida most of my life...I've swam across lakes retrieved fishing lures in a snag many times...but no matter when I've been stupid enough to enter the water it takes a minute or two to work up the nerve because alligators don't give a fudge And I highly recommend you don't do it...the second you dip your little feet in the water any gator in the water that's hungry or bold will come investigate shortly.

[@lovingpurrs8388]

Yeah you were never hungry and homeless thanks food stamps

[@alan30189]

@@lovingpurrs8388 How about going and getting a job! There are plenty of jobs out there. There’s no excuse for anyone to not be working. NONE!! If you can’t get a job in your field, do something else! Truck drivers are making over $100,000 a year, driving for Walmart. Come on, man! If you’re a drug addict, get help. If you’re an alcoholic, get help. Get permanently off the drugs and alcohol.

[@dennisgraham9444]

@@lovingpurrs8388 play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[@heavenshound6775]

@@lovingpurrs8388 cringe asf… Does being hungry and homeless make you unable to get a job that doesn’t have to do with swimming with dangerous alligators ? Imagine acting like that was his only way to make income 😂😂😂🤦🏾‍♂️ He’s an adult but you act like he is a child who has no other options…

[@NeeNee_B.]

@@alan30189 not about the gator guy, but in general: "theres no excuse for anyone to not be working" Uh, sure there is. Disability, the job doesnt pay a living wage, they might live in a rural area, they might be a single parent... then you mentioned truck driving, like everyone has a cdl, or even a drivers license, or even has the ability to drive. They might have a medical condition. Or cant afford to pay a driving school with no friend to teach them (my situation). Perhaps they have a mental health issue, or a criminal conviction keeping them from working. The housing crisis is in full effect right now, maybe they cant afford to move near better jobs... if all of these are issues in certain parts of nys & even nyc where I am, I can imagine how tough it may be for someone from a kentucky, alabama, or other poor, rural states. So for you to say "theres no reason anyone shouldn't be working" is asinine in any day, but especially under today's circumstances. I just gave you a whole list of reasons off the top of my head, never mind people's individual unique reasons for maybe not being ABLE to work. Not everyone is just lazy. Alsooooo.... you mentioned making 100k as a walmart driver... where?? And with how much experience? That sounds like a made up stat you saw somewhere. I work in HR for hiring, so I see plenty truck drivers apply with our fleet dept. The percentage of drivers making 100k+ from trucking is less than 20% unless they've been driving since AT LEAST the early 2000s with NO accidents or loss of shipments. And this is in Queens, btwn Long Island and Jersey, so PLENTY of Walmarts my friend. Your biases about the unemployed simply dont match with reality.

[@AB-wk6sm]

Sad sad sad… yes dangerous.. warned etc. but the human side of me feel even more sad for a homeless man jumping in despite of danger to retrieve an item that could possibly feed/shelter him for the night. This world sucks. RIP 😢

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

There is nothing sad about it. Sadness arises from self-ignorance. Why do you fear death? What have you experienced directly with death that you fear it and cling so tightly to what you only think is life?

[@eckankar7756]

or drugs or alcohol..who knows what his motivation was. Maybe he just wanted to die

[@AB-wk6sm]

@@eckankar7756 right … another way to look at it.

[@AB-wk6sm]

@@highvibefreqzshow5967 well…I don’t fear death but if I had to choose I wouldn’t want to leave this way… I understand your perspective though

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

@@AB-wk6sm You mean the body but not really you. The body dies as it was born. You are aware of the body, you are the perceiver of the body not the body itself. The human mind which calls itself "I," "me," and "mine" is what attaches itself to the body and creates a false sense of identity which is called the ego. Until it is seen clearly then it is realized that oneSelf is not really the body. Who you really are has nothing to fear. The body has nothing to fear. The mind has everything to fear as it is the source of all the imagined fears and it torments itself with those fears while blaming life for it all when life has nothing to do with those imaginings, they are just a form of self-ignorance. Not trying to get you to change your views in saying any of this and not trying to teach you anything just making what I am saying here more clear is all. Everyone has to find out who they really are on their own accord. Or else you have quite the dysfunctional life and society just like we see now in humanity.

[@Trouble-Clef]

It seems to me that going in and killing an alligator for doing nothing but being an alligator is just revenge. It’s very sad that this man died, but he quite literally got in the water and went to the alligator time and time again, but they still killed the alligator. Maybe the thing to have done would’ve been for people to stop giving this man money for retrieving the frisbees.

[@Chuckschwartz]

Born and raised in FL. You couldn’t pay me enough to jump in.

[@ginapronti8305]

Why are they even trying to find this alligator? The man brought this on himself? So this means that two other alligators were killed, because this man went into alligator filled water, & they are still trying to find the one, who killed the homeless man, to kill that one also??? I find this very heartless and unnecessary🐊🐊💔💔.

[@OMAR-vk9pi]

Cause it’ll probably attack another human in the future so why wait?

[@stephaniejacobs3809]

It's like Disney world culling the gators in and around the park😑 refused to put warning signs around the water and the little boy from Nebraska was attacked. So Disney put up signs and actively are culling the gators.

[@sisutoska4910]

I had a coworker once that had some basic life rules. The first rule was don’t get eaten.

[@highvibefreqzshow5967]

That rule will broken at some point. Some form of life will eat and consume the body, whether that is a diseased cell, another animal, fire or the Earth itself. Eventually the universe will eat and consume the earth and its sun.

[@princessofnada87j25]

Or ran over

[@ricardorussell6046]

They are no words, for this, was warned.

[@kellx4321]

Why the fuck did they take the alligators out the water? Unbelievable.

[@agentsnakeplisskin]

Not the gators fault, leave him alone. he’s doing Darwin’s work.

[@TheRaindancer10]

I lived in Florida as a child. Only places I remember swimming was the community pool and Atlantic Ocean. Glad I didn't go swimming in any lakes or rivers.

[@gloriatg100]

And there are sharks in the ocean 🌊

[@newhorizon1355]

Shark attacks and community pool illnesses made my life hell in Florida. Shark bit heel and hospitalized for crap swallowed accidently while swimming in public pool. Thanks to kids who relieve themselves in pool.

[@saminaneen]

@@newhorizon1355 Feeling like you need to pee during sex could also indicate that you're about to vomit. Before you cut and run to the Mexican restaurant , consider waiting it out a bit-as long as you are loving the pain, of yo boy, Michael Obama

[@theotheleo6830]

@@newhorizon1355 Since it was a public pool, it was likely literally crap that was swallowed.

[@calallen8786]

I swam in lakes and river in Florida

[@anastassiasinkova7006]

That guy who cleverly says that he's not gonna get into the water to retrieve his discs - so basically he admits he just dumps plastic waste into that lake every time he visits the park.

[@abigmonster8457]

A wise man once said. "That Tiger aint go crazy, that Tiger went Tiger!"