Fayetteville Tech student charged in goose shooting

A Fayetteville Technical Community College student has been charged after a goose sitting on eggs in a school parking lot was shot.

Security guards saw Geoffrey Caquias pull out a BB gun Friday morning and shoot the Canadian goose, which had made a nest and laid four eggs in a parking lot median, said Debbie Tanna, a spokeswoman for the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.

The goose was struck in the neck but has refused to leave the nest. Tanna said that rescuers can't help the bird, because federal law forbids disturbing the nest of an protected species.

The goose was still alive Saturday morning.

Caquias was cited for animal cruelty and other misdemeanor charges. If the goose dies, he will face stronger charges, Tanna said.

Caquias was also banned from the Fayetteville Tech campus.