Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller is catching heat for posting a photo of himself holding a hammerhead shark he allegedly caught and killed, reports Newsweek.
Von Miller posing with Cam Newton after Super Bowl 50 pic.twitter.com/W4RZqOlXn3
— Laces Out (@LacesOutShow) March 30, 2018
Moments after Miller posted the photo with the bloody hammerhead shark to social media, animal activists attacked the player.
“Seeing Von Miller smile as he holds a shark’s bloody body should turn any kind person’s stomach," senior director of cruelty casework at PETA Stephanie Bell said in a statement to Newsweek.
“This man has a reported history of bullying animals—having previously made the news for wrestling an alligator—and PETA is inquiring with officials to ensure that Miller is held accountable if killing this animal was, as we suspect, illegal,” she continued.
Miller has previously posted similar photos of himself fishing and hunting. In 2013, PETA spoke out against Miller's actions and warned against his involvement in the poultry industry, according to Yahoo.
Hey, @VonMiller – about that video of you cheering and laughing about reeling in a hammerhead shark while pulling its lifeless body onto your boat –
THEY.
ARE.
AN.
ENDANGERED.
SPECIES.You’re just as bad as a trophy hunter.
— Richelle ❄️ (@RichelleSue) March 30, 2018
Miller was in Miami with a group of friends when he caught the shark. There is video footage of him pulling the 9-and-half foot shark out of the water while his crew is cheering him on.
PETA is taking legal action and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is looking into the case. In an interview with TMZ, the Florida organization's spokesman Rob Klepper said, “FWC has received the images and video and is looking into whether or not a violation occurred in this incident.”
Harming a hammerhead shark is a second-degree misdemeanor in Florida. The player could possibly face up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.