ORANGE, Texas, July 7 (UPI) -- An 11-foot alligator that killed a Texas man just before the Fourth of July weekend was found to have been illegally shot to death, officials said on Tuesday.

Tommie Woodward, 28, reportedly ignored signs warning of alligators and jumped into a bayou in Orange, Texas, early Friday before being attacked by one of the animals and killed. An autopsy later revealed he drowned.


Game wardens say a 400-pound, 11-foot 2-inch alligator was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head after a group of men claimed to have trapped and shot it. The men were not on scene when game wardens arrived.

Judge Rodney Price said the alligator had body parts belonging to Woodward, KBMT reports.

Game wardens say killing an alligator is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500. Authorities are investigating the matter.