USARK FL

Remembering FWC’s “Holy Thursday Massacre” Three Years Later

Look for the upcoming series on the USARK FL Youtube channel.

April 6, 2026 — April 6 marks the three-year anniversary of what reptile keepers have called the “Holy Thursday Massacre,” when MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife (FWC) officers killed 32 pythons and one pregnant Boa constrictor at a reptile facility in Sunrise, Florida.

The Boa, a legal pet owned by Bill McAdam, was misidentified as a Prohibited species and killed with a penetrating captive bolt device. A subsequent necropsy revealed the 11-year-old snake was gravid (pregnant) and carrying 32 fully developed offspring.

The pythons (both Reticulated and Burmese pythons) belonged to Chris Coffee, who had legally possessed them prior to FWC’s 2021 rule changes that reclassified certain species as “Prohibited.” Coffee attempted to comply with the new regulations by rehoming many animals, but he was unable to do so within the state’s deadline. In 2022, FWC cited Coffee and placed the remaining snakes under “constructive seizure,” requiring him to continue caring for them but prohibiting their transfer or sale.

On April 6, 2023, FWC officers arrived at the facility and obtained a signed surrender of the animals. Coffee maintains he signed under threat of arrest. Over approximately two and a half hours, officers killed the snakes using a bolt gun. Video recorded at the scene shows that some of the snakes exhibited prolonged movement after being shot.

Despite being warned, officers also killed McAdam’s boa. FWC later described the incident as an “inadvertent euthanasia.”

Veterinarians have questioned both the method and ex*****on of the killings.

According to veterinarians citing American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines, captive reptiles—particularly pets—should be euthanized using sedation and chemical methods, not field techniques intended for wild animals.

The incident drew widespread media attention and millions of views online. USARK FL has called for increased accountability, including mandatory continuous body camera use, third-party data management, and transparency in euthanasia policies.

Three years later, McAdam’s lawsuit against FWC remains ongoing after unsuccessful attempts by the agency to have the case dismissed. USARK FL emphasizes that commemorating this anniversary is not intended to inflame tensions, but rather to highlight the real-world consequences of regulatory policy and enforcement actions. The organization continues to advocate for science-based, humane policies and collaboration between regulators and the reptile community.

For additional information, photos, or interview requests, contact USARK FL Director of Media Daniel Parker at [email protected]