Media outlets were up in arms about who should take the blame and reap the consequences of a three-year-old boy ending up in a gorilla exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo, which ultimately resulted in the killing of the gorilla, Harambe.
Open discussion on the topic ensued, and some were suggesting the mother of the boy be held accountable for what could have potentially been a form of neglect. A petition in attempt to get “Justice for Harambe” circulated online and received more than 500,000 signatures.
Prosecutor Joseph Deter was obviously in opposition of that sentiment.
As of yesterday [Monday, June 6] the Ohio prosecutor decided against charging the boy’s mother.
“By all accounts this mother did not act in any way where she presented this child to some harm,” Deter said per CNN. “She had three other kids with her and turned her back… And if anyone doesn’t believe a three-year-old can scamper off very quickly, they’ve never had kids.”
The unfortunate death of the 450-pound gorilla, Harambe raised necessary discussion regarding zoo safety and parental standards.
