News

Authorities know IDs of men who dragged shark behind boat in viral video

Officials of a Florida fishing tournament announced Tuesday that they have identified the men captured on video dragging a shark behind a speeding boat.

The disturbing video was posted to social media and was instantly shared tens of thousands of times in the hopes of finding those responsible.

One of the men in the video was wearing a T-shirt with “Sarasota Slam” on the front, and tournament officials were quick to distance themselves from the firestorm that has erupted.

"The Sarasota Slam is in no way affiliated with the despicable behavior in the video on social media," event organizers said on their Facebook page. "We do not want to give those individuals any more attention."

According to WFTV-TV, neither the group nor investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have publicly identified the men in the video.

The FWC confirmed that an investigation has been opened into the individuals in the video, and where and when it may have been recorded.

A spokesperson for FWC told WFTV-TV they take this incident very seriously and they're investigating.

"It is too early to speculate as to what, if any, violations took place in this incident," the spokesperson said.

It is not clear in the video if the shark was alive while it was being dragged behind the boat, but experts said it would be virtually impossible for the animal to survive behind pulled by the tail at such a high rate of speed.