The children had been aware of the presence of at least one alligator during the day and had been throwing rocks at it. Griffin was swimming just after dusk, a prime feeding time, Pallitto said.
Afterward, wildlife officials killed seven alligators ranging from 8 to 10 feet long and were fairly certain they got the one that killed the boy, Pallitto said.
The attack was in the cottage community of Palm Gardens near Tavares, some 40 miles northwest of Orlando. Alligators often gather near the bank where people feed them, causing them to lose their fear of humans, Pallitto said.
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“People think it’s really cool to feed them potato chips and what-not,” he said. “When they become unfearful of humans, this is what happens.”
The conditions favored an attack. “It’s feeding time, it’s their mating season so they’re really agitated to begin with,” Pallitto said. “That combination ain’t good.”

Too bad they killed the alligators, they were only doing what comes naturally. The animals always end up paying for human stupidity.

And a runner-up:

A guy not far from here went walking with his dog the other day, knowing that: a) his dog was excitable and b) there had been a mother grizzly and cubs in the area recently. They came between the monther and cubs, the dog made a fuss, and the mother attacked. The guy managed to fend it off with his walking stick and get away, but wildlife officers later killed both the mother and the cubs. Sad.