'It tore us all up': Residents band together to mourn Walter, the neighborhood alligator

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Residents of an apartment complex along the South Carolina coast are outraged after a community member — an alligator named Walter — was killed.

Walter, a long-time resident of Daniel Island Village in Charleston, was killed on the property after the management reportedly received several complaints against him, NBC affiliate WCBD reported citing the apartment complex's management. However, residents argue that the alligator, who had been sunning beside a pond on the property for more than a decade, was not a nuisance but that his fate was in fact decided by the new management, who thought the wild animal posed a risk to residents.

“We have new management here at Daniel Island Village and they felt that he was a risk for residents, so they called and had a trapper come and take him," a resident Susan Chapman told WCSC. "He was killed right here on the banks of this beautiful pond last week."

Another resident, Rebekah Cole, told WCSC she was shocked when she saw Walter being killed with his throat slit as she and others looked on last Friday.

Cole, who has lived at the complex for six years, said her balcony had a clear view of the pond from her balcony, where she would often see Walter sunning by the banks of the pond. Cole added Walter never bothered residents and had in fact become a staple in their daily lives.

“He didn’t bother anybody," Cole told WCSC. "I mean, we have a dog, and we’ve gone by him a million times - big dogs, little dogs, children. He’s just been a staple here and our little PR person. So not just the act of him being killed, but why? It just broke all our hearts. The thing is now he’s gone."

Residents hold vigil

To register their protest and mourn the loss of their community member, Daniel Island Village residents led by Cole gathered around the pond Saturday and held a vigil for the beloved alligator.

“He was a piece of the community. Even though he was a cold-blooded animal, we all loved him, and it tore us all up,” Cole said.

WCBD reported the vigil included a moment of silence, prayer, and community members shared stories about the positive impact Walter had on the neighborhood. Residents also placed a blue ribbon at the spot where Walter would lounge in his memory, WSCS reported.

Apartment complex had permission to cull the animal

The Daniel Island Village management said in a statement that Walter’s death followed state law and “[we] sincerely appreciate your understanding,” the Associated Press reported. The management did not immediately respond to Paste BN's request for a comment.

Cole told WCSC residents watched in horror as a trapper engaged by the management attempted to capture Walter with a fishing pole baited with chicken. However, Walter resisted and quickly dove into the pond. However, the trapper managed to hook Walter around the neck and pulled him out. As frenzied onlookers tried to intervene and call the police, the trapper "just took his knife and found and slit his throat in front of all of us," Cole told the media outlet.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), meanwhile, in a statement emailed to Paste BN Tuesday said the apartment complex was issued a permit the past two years "to use at their discretion if they have an issue with an alligator." The permit allowed the management to hire a contractor to get rid of the animal, according to the statement.

"This year, the community chose to use its permit on this animal and the community hired a nuisance wildlife company to carry this out," the statement said. "SCDNR did not hire or dispatch anyone to remove or kill the alligator in this case."

While it remains unknown what exactly prompted management to take this step, the village earlier celebrated the warmer weather last year with a photo of Walter on social media.

“Daylight savings time is coming to an end! It is getting warmer out!" the management said in February 2024 Facebook post. "Daniel Island Village is on the verge of a beautiful blossom! The proof is in the pudding, WALTER is OUT!!"

The post was accompanied by a photo of Walter sunning on the pond's bank.

The comments section of the post is now filled with residents and others protesting Walter's killing.

Chapman told WCSC some community members have even contacted state legislators about Walter's killing and hope the govt. takes legal action.

While alligators are threatened species and protected under federal law, state law grants permit for the animals to be killed if they threaten people. It is illegal to feed alligators or keep them as pets, according to SCDNR.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.