Man who killed killer gator won't be charged

An 11-foot, 2-inch alligator corpse lies next to the water at Burkart's Marina on Monday, July 6, 2015. The alligator was killed and brought to the Orange marina sometime Monday. Officials will not charge the man who killed the alligator, instead issuing a warning citation. The alligator apparently was the animal involved in the death of Tommie Woodward, 28, on July 3 at the same location. less An 11-foot, 2-inch alligator corpse lies next to the water at Burkart's Marina on Monday, July 6, 2015. The alligator was killed and brought to the Orange marina sometime Monday. Officials will not charge the ... more Photo: Jake Daniels Photo: Jake Daniels Image 1 of / 77 Caption Close Man who killed killer gator won't be charged 1 / 77 Back to Gallery

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department won't press charges against an East Texas man who fatally shot an alligator that had killed a man days before.

In a news release, the Department cited "unprecedented circumstances"—the first alligator fatality in Texas in almost 200 years—for the decision not to charge the man, identified only as "Bear," who reportedly killed the animal July 6 out of concern for community safety. He could have faced a $500 fine and a class C misdemeanor charge.

RELATED: Man swimming in Orange bayou dies in apparent alligator attack

The news that he won't be fined comes as the Burkart Marina, where the attack occurred and where the man dropped the corpse of the slain alligator, prepared to hold a Saturday fundraiser to pay his fines.

"Nobody was going to sit back and let that man pay," said Gwen Thigpen, secretary for marina owner Allen Burkart. "They feel like the man did the right thing by getting rid of the gator. That gator could have killed a lot of people out here."

She said the idea for the fundraiser came after a handful of locals turned up in recent days wanting to donate to pay the man's fines, starting with an old woman who offered $7. The marina decided to sell plates of barbecued chicken and sausage and host a band in an attempt to raise all the money.

But that won't be necessary now. Game wardens are closing their investigation.

On Friday, game wardens were notified of an alligator attack and missing person on Adams Bayou in Orange County. The body of Tommie Woodward was later found. He died after jumping into the bayou, despite warning of signs and the marina owner that there were gators in the water.

RELATED: Alligator in deadly attack shot and killed

On July 6, TPWD got word that an 11-foot alligator had been killed, and by the next day the agency had made contact with the man who admitted killing it for safety concerns.

"In no way do we condone the killing of a nuisance alligator without proper authority. Either Texas game wardens or a licensed nuisance alligator hunter would have been more appropriate to handle the situation. Either way, because of its aggressive behavior, the alligator would have to be killed," said Col. Craig Hunter, law enforcement director for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. "If there is a positive that can come out of this case, it's an educational opportunity for us to reinforce to the public not to feed or disturb alligators and that there are proper procedures for handling nuisance alligators."