Outrage after shark gutted and hung from the roof at high school
A huge dead shark was hung from the ceiling of a Florida high school in a prank that has sparked outrage across the US.
Staff at Ponte Vedra High School in Jacksonville were reportedly shocked by the find on Thursday morning (local time) with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation now investigating the matter.
A group of students are said to be behind the act which involved the killing and gutting of an unknown species of shark.
Officials said the animal was stored in a freezer before being hung from the rafters with two sets of cables.
"A group of five high school students at Ponte Vedra High School hung a gutted shark on the rafters of the school courtyard,” Alex AuBuchon, spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told the Miami Herald.
School officials disposed of the carcass before the commission was notified, Mr AuBuchon said.
It's not known how the students managed to catch and hang the shark, but the stunt was apparently captured on the school's security camera.
Online outrage over shark prank: 'This is sick'
Social media users blasted the brutal display with many arguing the prank was inappropriate.
"A prank shouldn’t involve something being killed!" one person wrote on Facebook.
"This is sick," another posted on Twitter.
Others slammed the high school students and said they should be punished.
"This is awful! Hopefully, they catch whoever did this," one response read.
Photos of the dead animal have been sent to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to hopefully identify the species of shark.
Local police are also involved in the investigation which could see the students responsible suspended or expelled. There could also be criminal charges according to the district's Code of Conduct, it's been reported.
"We are currently investigating this with the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office. This is a serious matter and any students who are involved will be dealt with in accordance of a Level 4 offence in our student code of conduct," Christina H. Upchurch, chief of community relations for the school district, said in a statement, according to FOX 5 News.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
