Once it got dark the orders were to shoot to kill. Lots of livestock in that area and with the possibility of humans being attacked in the dark, they didn’t want to take any chances. Several lions, tigers, cougars and leopards were among the escapees.
Staffers from the Columbus Zoo went to the scene, hoping to tranquilize and capture the animals. The sheriff said caretakers might put food in the animals’ cages to try to lure them back.