I think I read that groundhogs are the only rodent that carries rabies. Reason enough.
Groundhogs are not the only rodents to get rabies, but they are the ones that get it most often. Aggressive behavior in a groundhog is very rare and usually a sign of a serious disease. Shooting this rodent was the right call.
As for the head shot, I’ll never complain about an instant kill. I live in the People’s Republic of Maryland, and I love the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. They are the best in the Baltimore area, and I would expect their officers to hit what they shoot. I spend enough range time next to a lot of them at the local gun range.