A man was killed when a huge black bear mauled him to death as he drank his morning coffee outside his home.
Steven Jackson, 66, was drinking his cup of coffee on an outside table at his home in Groom Creek just before 8am on Friday when a huge adult male black bear struck.
Mr Jackson, from Tuscan, was building a home on the rounds and appeared completely unaware the beast was stalking him before it pinched and dragged him about 75 feet down an embankment.
The senior citizen was mauled to death and nearby neighbours, who heard Jackon screaming for help, tried to deter the bear away by shouting at honking their car horns.
But the animal refused to let go until one local man fired his rifle and killed the bear.
“Our sincere sympathies go out to Mr. Jackson’s family”, said Sherriff David Rhodes of the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
“I cannot express how deeply sad this situation is and can only say our prayers are with you.”
According to Arizona Game and Fish the attack, which appeared to be predatory in nature, is highly uncommon and unusual, with only one other fatal attack known since the mid 1980s.
At first glance there did not appear to be anything on the site that would have precipitated a attack by the bear, such as food, a cooking site or access to water, police said.
Police have also said there is no threat to the public as this bear has been put down.
The location where the attack occurred was not near recreational sites for camping, but officials still caution revellers to take precautions when camping, such as locking up food in a vehicle and not leaving out items such as toothpaste that may bring a bear to a campsite.
Police will be conducting an investigation into the death, while Arizona Game and Fish will investigate what may have caused the attack, but officials at the moment do not have a theory other than a predatory response by the bear.
Both investigations are just beginning, and more information will be released when available. Police have also cautioned people to not shoot bears that they see unless there is an imminent threat to them or someone else.
