Cincinnati Zoo Gorilla Update: Boy Identified With Photo, Video; Mother Faces Possible Charges

The 3-year-old boy who fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo has been identified as Isiah Dickerson, the U.K.’s Daily Mail wrote in an exclusive report Tuesday. The gorilla, Harambe, was shot dead, sparking outrage from people who blame the boy’s mother, Michelle Gregg, for the animal’s death.

Even though Isiah appeared in witness videos of the incident, which quickly went viral, his face could not be clearly seen. The Daily Mail shared several family photos, which were apparently obtained from Facebook.

The zoo is not being blamed, but Gregg might be prosecuted for letting her son fall into the gorilla’s enclosure. The Cincinnati Police Department released a statement Tuesday that it was investigating her.

“Consistent with department policies, the Cincinnati Police Department Personal Crimes Unit is closely reviewing the facts and circumstances that led to a 3-year-old boy falling in the Gorilla World enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo on Saturday, May 28, 2016. An update will be provided as soon as possible,” the statement read. “This review is only regarding the actions of the parents/family that led up to the incident and not related to the operation or safety of the Cincinnati Zoo.”

Police finished the statement by asking witnesses to pass along any recordings, videos or information on the incident. The Cincinnati Police Criminal Investigations Section can be contacted at (515) 352-3542.

Gregg, 32, has not issued a statement, except for her original Facebook post. She did not apologize, but was thankful her son was unharmed. “My son is safe and was able to walk away with a concussion and a few scrapes... no broken bones or internal injuries,” she wrote in a now-deleted post. “As a society we are quick to judge how a parent could take their eyes off of their child and if anyone knows me I keep a tight watch on my kids. Accidents happen but I am thankful that the right people were in the right place today.”

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