Teen Used Cobra to Commit Suicide

An 18-year-old’s death in July from multiple cobra bites has been ruled a suicide, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Grant Thompson, was found by police in a North Austin parking lot with multiple bites on each arm. The bite marks showed no evidence that the man tried to pull away or resist when bit, according to the autopsy.

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Police found Thompson in his car outside the Lowe’s on Parmer Lane and Interstate 35 suffering from cardiac arrest.

In the same car, police found another snake and several tarantulas, the Statesman reported. Also in the back of his car — an empty container meant to contain a cobra.

The cobra was never recovered from the scene, which resulted in a days-long search of the area by animal control. Eventually a driver found it on an I-35 frontage road near the parking lot. The snake had been run over.

Thompson worked at a family-owned pet store, the Fish Bowl Pet Express in Temple. His goal in life was to eventually own the store.

Thompson had a love for animals and would often rescue and rehabilitate animals in need of help, according to his obituary. He had become an animal expert that people could come to for advice.

“Grant surrounded himself with living things. He was always eager to share his animals with his friends, family, neighbors, Sunday School class and anyone he could,” the obituary said.