Passerby Shoots Pardoned Piggly Wiggly Pig

A pig previously pardoned by grocery store Piggly Wiggly has met a grisly end on the side of the road in Ravenel.

Maggie, who frequently served as a mascot for the Charleston-based grocery store chain, lived at rescue organization LEARN's farm. Late Tuesday afternoon, she escaped from her enclosure and was grazing near the road. 

The large pig was shot twice by David Seth Ashmore, who told Charleston County deputies he spotted her, drove home to retrieve a weapon and came back to shoot her. Ashmore was given a $1,092 citation and a court date of May 1 on Wednesday.

Charleston County Animal Control investigated the incident.

The responding deputy told the LEARN's founder Elizabeth Steed and the suspect that they are both at fault in the incident since the pig was "at large" and the suspect had discharged a firearm in the roadway. 

Ashmore told deputies he had shot the pig because it was wandering on and off the road. However, volunteers with LEARN said the suspect was attempting to haul the carcass away to get the animal butchered. 

LEARN gained national recognition last year when it rescued a burned, starved horse named Whisper. Click here to read more about Whisper. 

Edited 4:55 p.m. to correct headline and add new information about a citation issued in the case. Information from Charleston County Sheriff's Office said Maggie was a "mascot" for Piggly Wiggly, which is incorrect. Maggie was pardoned by the grocery chain several years ago but never filled the role of mascot.