Updated Thursday at 12:37 p.m. with information about a suspect.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will require the person who killed a beloved town turkey in Argyle to pay restitution, police said on Thursday.
Tom George the turkey, who was known for chasing cars and wandering the small town, was killed, police confirmed Wednesday.
With the information gathered by police about the incident, the wildlife department identified the person police say is responsible for the turkey's death. The person, whose name was not released, will also face several charges, police officials said.
For now, the town will remain without a turkey, police said.
"While we too would love to see a town turkey again, we learned that it is illegal to release a turkey into the town without first gaining permission from Texas Parks and Wildlife," police officials said in a release.
On Wednesday, police said that Tom was taken by a man around 8:35 a.m. Investigators conducted a preliminary interview with a person who said they witnessed the incident, police said.
Officers went to an area of Frenchtown Road and Charyl Lynn Drive and obtained video footage.
Chief Emmitt Jackson, detectives and officers conducted more interviews, which led to identifying the possible involved person.
The news of Tom George's death spread across social media.
The turkey has a Facebook page dedicated to him, which shows pictures of Tom sitting on vehicles, hanging out in intersections and monitoring traffic.
"What?? I'm heartsick. Who would do this to a living creature?" one person commented on the turkey's Facebook page.
"So heartbroken" and "Heartbreaking news! So sad."
When Argyle shut down due to the pandemic, Tom George was able to explore the town a little bit more. He was spotted at the Argyle post office, the sign for the Shops of Argyle and outside the Snooty Pig Cafe.
Last year, WFAA reported how his fondness of trotting into traffic was causing concern for his safety.
He frequently would go on Highway 377 so locals knew to dodge him. Tom George's whereabouts were often noted in the Argyle police blotter.
“He is a wild animal, so he is protected,” said then-Police Chief Temple Cottle. “We try to shoo him back towards his habitat. He definitely has a fan club concerned about his safety and we are, too.”
