Police seeking cobra believed to have bitten, killed man
AUSTIN, Texas -- Police have not found a dangerous cobra believed to have bitten and killed an 18-year-old in Central Texas who was transporting the snake in his car.
Emergency personnel found Grant Thompson unresponsive Tuesday night in the parking lot of a home improvement store in Austin with a puncture wound to his wrist. He died while being taken to a Round Rock hospital.
Authorities say Thompson owned a monocled cobra and it's believed the reptile may be in the area. Police urge people not to approach the highly aggressive cobra.
When people searched Thompson's car they found another snake, six tarantulas and a bullfrog.
A police spokeswoman told CBS affiliate KEYE-TV they are waiting on an autopsy, which is expected to be completed Thursday.
Thompson worked at a pet shop in his hometown of Temple and KEYE-TV reported he would show exotic animals to customers.
"Whether he would have birds, or possums or lizards, or snakes, spiders. He would talk a little bit about each animal," family friend Charlie Kimmey told the station.