'A bad situation did not get worse': Enraged bull euthanized after escaping slaughterhouse

Body camera footage shows the moment a "highly aggressive" raging bull charged a Raynham, Massachusetts, police officer after the animal escaped from a farm.

According to local police, the incident happened Monday morning after the 1,300-pound bull got away from workers at Mathieu Farms, who were relocating the animal to the slaughterhouse. Investigators later determined that the bull was frightened at the time.

"The bull ran through multiple fences, including electrified fences, and jumped over a 6-foot-tall berm to escape," prompting the farm owners to call the police, the department said.

The beast got onto Interstate 495, resulting in a car crash involving three vehicles. One of the drivers was taken to the hospital.

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Farm owner euthanized the bull

The bull was able to run into the woods and take a dip in Lake Nippenicket, which is only a few miles away from Raynham, when the farm workers and police eventually spotted it.

"Upon seeing the officers, the bull quickly and aggressively swam toward the group on shore, prompting a Raynham Police officer to discharge his department-issued rifle," police said. "The shots were ineffective at stopping the animal, and the bull got out of the water and began to charge at those on shore."

In the video, the officer was holding the weapon at the enraged bull. The officer shot it several more times, ultimately striking it in the leg.

According to police, after the officer disabled the bull, the farm owner got his legal hunting rifle and euthanized it.

"I want to commend our brave officers who put themselves in harm's way to make sure that a bad situation did not get worse," Chief David LaPlante said in a statement.

Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com.