Officials of the Humane Educational Society said no charges will be brought against a volunteer firefighter at the Highway 58 Volunteer Fire Department after he shot and then burned a raccoon.
Officials said, "Animal protection officers were called to investigate a possible case of animal cruelty committed by a volunteer firefighter at the Highway 58 Fire Department.
Reports indicated that the individual found the raccoon on the premise of the Highway 58 fire department and shot the animal with a 40 caliber handgun, then burned the raccoon not knowing whether it was still alive or dead."
The Humane Educational Society sent the animal's remains to the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy to verify whether the animal had been burned alive.
Officials said the necropsy report indicated that the animal died as a result of gun fire before being burned.
No charges against the volunteer firefighter are pending at this time.