Police Shoot and Kill Peacock in LaGrange Service Call

The LaGrange Police Department recently had to deal with a unique situation involving a peacock. According to Channel 2 Action News, the police confirmed that they had to ‘dispatch’ a peacock on April 28.

The department had been receiving calls about the peacock causing injuries and property damage for over a year and a half. The most recent call came from Southern Orthopedic and Southern Surgery around 1 p.m. on that day.

Officers attempted to secure the peacock using a beanbag gun and other nonlethal methods, but those efforts were unsuccessful. Ultimately, they had to resort to using a shotgun to euthanize the animal.

One of the reasons for using lethal force was the proximity of a nearby elementary school. There were concerns about the safety of children and patients in the area, given the agitated state of the peacock.

Despite efforts to capture the bird using different methods, including a Taser and a catch pole, officers were unable to safely subdue it. Eventually, they had to resort to using live ammunition to prevent further harm.

Following the incident, the peacock’s remains were removed from the property. It’s worth noting that peacocks are not native to Georgia and are not considered an endangered species, so the Department of Natural Resources does not typically respond to calls about them.

Local resources, such as animal safaris and zoos, were reportedly unwilling to take in the peacock. The situation highlights the complexities of dealing with non-native and potentially dangerous animals in urban environments.