The boy crawled through a barrier at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and fell into the outdoor gorilla center on May 28. After he dropped into the exhibit, a 17-year-old male gorilla named Harambe picked up and dragged the child, zoo director Thane Maynard later told reporters.

Officials tasked with handling the situation determined that the child’s life was in danger, and they fatally shot the animal.

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“The zoo lost a beautiful animal and one that many people in this area have enjoyed watching for a long time, but it’s still an animal,” Deters said. “It does not equate human life. And they felt that this boy’s life was in jeopardy, and they did, they made the painful choice to do what they did.”

Deters on Monday said that witnesses described an attentive mother, who had “simply turned her back.” The mother visited the zoo with four children, including the 3-year-old, the prosecutor’s office said in a news release. One of the mother’s friends was also present, as well as that woman’s teenager and 7-year-old.

Deters said that if the mother had been in the bathroom doing drugs, for example, “that would be a different story.” But witnesses said the mother was paying attention to her kids, he said, and the 3-year-old just slipped away.

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The gorilla had the child between its legs when it was fatally shot in the head, the prosecutor’s office said. The child was taken to a local hospital after the encounter, but wasn’t seriously injured.

“This is a beautiful little boy, and had they not acted, and this animal behaved sometimes like animals behave, we could have had a genuine tragedy here,” Deters said. “It’s sad enough that the gorilla was taken out. But it could have been a lot worse.”

The gorilla exhibit is expected to reopen Tuesday, according to the zoo.

In a statement Monday, the boy’s family said it was “very pleased” with the prosecutor’s decision against filing charges.

“This is one more step in allowing us to put this tragic episode behind us and return to our normal family life,” the statement said. “We extend thanks to all of those who have been praying for us and who have supported us through this trying ordeal and praise to God for His mercy and grace.”