Melbourne, FL - A Melbourne man has been sentenced after he was filmed brutally beating a shark to death with a hammer on a Florida beach in December of 2022.
The incident, which took place on December 20th, 2022, attracted attention after video footage from a nearby restaurant's security camera at Bicentennial Beach Park in Indian Harbor Beach went viral.
The video captured 34-year-old Brian Waddill fishing, capturing a lemon shark, and then using a hammer to strike the shark's head before dragging it back into the water.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) arrest report, Waddill was charged with possession of a prohibited species and failure to release it without unnecessary harm.
Court documents reveal that Waddill has been sentenced to 12 months of probation and is required to pay court costs and fines amounting to $336.
Additionally, Waddill will face restrictions on his fishing activities, make a $250 donation to the Brevard Zoo, and complete the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation's shore-based shark fishing course.