Florida of the Day: Drunk Shoots Man Guarding Turtle Habitat in the Butt

Guarding endangered sea turtle nests doesn't sound like it would require a gun, but one guy in Florida thought it necessary.

New York Daily News reported that 72-year-old Stanley Pannaman was just minding his own business July 18, volunteering for an organization who protect sea turtle habitats until the little eggs hatch and the turtles find their way into the sea.

The Tamarac resident, who grew up in Queens and raised his family in Bay Shore, Long Island before retiring to Florida in 2001, volunteers for a local group that sits by sea turtle nests on the beach and ensures they are not disturbed until the tiny baby turtles hatch and go to the ocean.

The nests are surrounded with sticks and tape and Pannaman makes sure no person or animal hurts the sea creatures. When they are born the tiny turtles may be drawn to the light from nearby cars or homes, so Pannaman will pick them up and bring them to the water.

That is until Michael Q. McAuliffe came along and ruined the night.

McAuliffe, who was very drunk, got close to the protected habitat and in the volunteer's face about his dislike of "turtle people". He jumped on Pannaman and took the Vietnam veterans gun away. McAuliffe then shot the elderly man in the abdomen where the bullet lodged in his derriere.

The police came, arrested McAuliffe and sent Pannaman to the hospital who was then released July 19.

Despite being shot with his own wedding, the Florida has no regrets.

Pannaman said he doesn't regret bring the gun and is just happy he didn't bring his normal Taurus .357 Magnum that would have caused him greater injuries.

"I figured I was going to the beach, I figured I could just carry the .32 caliber pistol," he said.

Thankfully, all the sea turtles are fine and nary a bobcat was seen near the nest.