Murrells Inlet woman accused of shooting at alligator in nearby pond

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A Murrells Inlet woman is facing charges after allegedly shooting a gun at an alligator in a nearby pond, according to a police report obtained by News13.

Cheryl Loiacono, 59, was charged with discharging a firearm or attempting to kill wildlife in certain sanctuaries.

Horry County police responded at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday for a shooting in a residential area, according to the report. The responding officer spoke with a group of people who said they were the HOA board for the community and that Loiacono had shot at an alligator in a nearby pond.

The officer went to the pond where the alligator was, and found it healthy and unharmed, the report said. Police then spoke with Loiacono, who said she received a phone call from a neighbor that the alligator was going toward a swan and her nest.

Loiacono said in fear of the swan’s life, she fired a round into the water in an attempt to scare the alligator off, according to the report. She said about 40 minutes later, she fired another round at the alligator as it swam past her house and into the other section of the pond.

Loiacono said she was not aiming at the alligator because she didn’t want to harm it, the report said.

She was booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center at about 9:10 p.m. on Sunday, online jail records show. She was released at about 10:20 a.m. Monday on a $1,000 bond.