Florida Man Arrested for Stabbing Shark in Head as 'Revenge' for Stolen Fish After Graphic Video Goes Viral

A 26-year-old man from Florida was arrested Thursday after he admitted to stabbing a bull shark multiple times, an act he filmed and shared on Snapchat. The video, which gained notoriety late last month, shows the gruesome attack near a wreck site off Key West.

Zane Garrett, who has been identified as a captain on the Second Nature Charters website, faces charges of aggravated animal cruelty. The incident occurred on May 22, and the video was titled “Bud broke my rod,” according to reports.

An anonymous tipster alerted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after witnessing the disturbing footage, citing concerns for public safety. This led to an investigation into Garrett's actions.

Interestingly, Garrett had previously been under scrutiny for falsely representing himself as a licensed captain, a requirement he does not meet. Authorities were directed to him after interviewing the individual who posted the video online.

In the tipster's report, they expressed alarm over Garrett's behavior, stating, “Yes, to weapons for the 9-11 inch filet knife, yes to violent behavior for stabbing a shark repeatedly.” They also noted their disbelief that someone would post evidence of committing a crime.

When confronted with the video, Garrett acknowledged his actions, saying, “Yah, that’s me.” He justified his behavior by claiming it was a common practice to deter sharks from stealing fish. He believed that stabbing one would send a message to others.

Garrett further explained that he acted out of “revenge” because the shark had taken his catch and was becoming a nuisance. According to the warrant, he stated, “I asked Mr. Garrett if he thought that the repeated blows would eventually kill the shark, to which he replied, ‘No. It takes a lot more to kill a shark than stabbing it in the head.'”

Moreover, he admitted to having “done a lot more killing” of sharks using firearms and mentioned that he had stabbed or killed sharks without bringing them aboard his boat on numerous occasions.

Authorities have condemned Garrett's actions as “egregious,” emphasizing the unnecessary harm inflicted on the shark. He is currently being held at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Key West jail facility with a bond set at $10,000. His arraignment is scheduled for June 26.