Alligators being removed after New Orleans boy’s death

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Alligators are being removed from a body of water after the body of missing Bryan Vasquez, 12, was found.

According to the New Orleans Coroner’s Office report, he died as a result of blunt force trauma by an alligator and drowning.

New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick called for the removal of alligators from the area where Bryan’s body was found. “We want the community and the Michoud neighborhood to be aware that we will have hunters in that body of water eradicating those nuisance alligators,” Kirkpatrick said.

Within hours of Kirkpatrick’s announcement, an alligator hunter with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries was already searching in the water.

According to members of the Cajun Navy who were not involved in the hunt but know the hunter, at least two alligators were caught on day one. Jonathan Gusanders, the Cajun Navy member who found Vasquez’s body, says he believes he knows which gator is responsible for the attack and plans to meet with the hunter.

“Our goal from a Cajun Navy perspective with that process is to identify that alligator, go back to the family and say we know who did it. We know which one,” Gusanders said.

While many nearby residents say they are relieved to see these alligators go, they are frustrated that the hunt is only just happening. “This should have been dredged a long time ago, and this should have been done a long time ago,” said New Orleans East resident Melissa Jenkins.

While it’s uncertain how long this mission may take, some people are hopeful that it may restore some peace of mind to nearby residents.

“Maybe and hopefully one day this neighborhood can take back this waterway and start seeing kayaks and boats and fishing back here again. People with children and children with autism don’t have to worry about this possibility happening again,” United Cajun Navy member Kaysee Seymour said.

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