UPDATE: Escaped Raynham bull shot by police, euthanized

RAYNHAM, Mass. (WLNE) — An escaped Raynham bull was euthanized Monday after the animal was shot several times by police, according to the Raynham Police Department.

The bull was in the process of being transported to a slaughterhouse at around 9 a.m. when it escaped just before being loaded onto a truck by workers at Mathieu Farms.

The bull then ran through several fences, included electrified fences, and jumped over a 6-foot berm.

Several calls were made to 911 that the 1,300-pound bull was running down Jennings Drive near Elm Street East.

The bull ran onto I-495, causing a multi-vehicle crash and one driver was transported to a local hospital with injuries.

The bull then ran into the woods of Elm Street East and into Lake Nippenicket near the Raynham Water District building.

After remaining the water for a short time, police and farm staff located the bull, and the bull then aggressively swam toward them on the shore.

A Raynham police officer then shot the bull with a rifle, which was ineffective at stopping the animal, which got out of the water and charged them.

Several more shots were fired with one striking the bull in the leg and disabling it.

Police bodycam footage shows the incident.

The bull was later euthanized with a rifle by the animal’s owner, who told police early in the escape that the bull would likely need to be put down due to its aggression.

A press conference on the incident is scheduled for 3 p.m. Monday.