Man Who Attacked Victim With Python Charged With Assault

Toronto police have charged a man who attacked a person with a python with assault with a weapon and unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal.

The incident occurred late on Wednesday between Dundas Street West and Manning Avenue. Police arrived at the scene after someone called about a man threatening others with a python. 

In a video posted to social media, the alleged attacker, Laurenio Avila, can be seen swinging a snake at another man before police arrived and broke up the fight, according to Global News.

Before getting into a fight, the man was reportedly walking down the street holding the snake before he approached the victim in question. The two eventually got into a spat which led to the eventual attack.

Police say the snake was alive during the fight, but died afterwards at an unspecified time. They also told CityNews that the alleged attacker and the victim hadn’t known each other prior to the incident and the victim was not injured.

Avila last appeared in court the day after he was arrested, but there haven’t been any updates since.