A shooting, two alligators, an exotic dancer and a pot plantation

While it sounds like the plot of a Hollywood movie, there was a report of a shooting at a quiet, suburban house in Washington State on Monday. Police following up on the report got a little more than they bargained for.

When Thurston County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the house, they found a very bizarre scene. They were greeted by an exotic dancer and two alligators, who were busy guarding a covert marijuana plantation.

Talking to local media, one of the detectives, Lt. Greg Elwin, said that the whole thing was like “a scene out of a Hollywood movie.”

On entering and searching the house, the officers found a full scale strip-dance pole and, even more surprisingly, an exotic dancer. In another room, they found the owner's pets - two five-foot (1.5m) hissing alligators, guarding the owner's weed plantation.

“They were there for protection for the marijuana grow area. They were just crawling around on the floor,” said Elwin.

The owner, 41-year-old Darren Shore, offered to help catch his pets, and managed to secure them in a nearby bathroom.

Getting back to the reason for the call out, when Shore was confronted by the officers about the reported shooting, he said he had opened fire in self-defense. Apparently someone had tried to run him over.

However, police believe Shore actually shot at a 30-year-old acquaintance, twice, possibly related to a failed drug deal. The man was taken to Providence St. Peter Hospital for minor gunshot wounds and apparently released Tuesday morning.

Shore was taken into custody for an investigation of attempted murder. Police left the alligators behind, but contacted Thurston County Animal Control officials, as they were not sure if Shore was breaking any laws by keeping the alligators.

According to Elwin, they were left in the water-filled bathtub with some raw chicken parts to nibble on.

Read more and watch video

Malala recovering and in a stable condition in the UK (video)

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15-year-old Malala Yousufzai has received worldwide attention for her efforts to promote the education of girls in Pakistan... read more and watch video about Malala from 2009.

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The definition of the secrets revealed on the show was rather broad, but generally they were supposed to be humorous, unusual or astounding.

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Malala Yousafzai, Taliban shooting victim sent to UK (video)

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As reported on Digital Journal, 14-year-old Malala was shot in the head last Tuesday by a Taliban insurgent. The attack on her was made due to her campaigning for the right of young females to education in Pakistan.

Malala was shot in the head and neck while she sat with classmates on a school bus as it prepared to drive students home from morning classes in Mingora, a city in the Swat valley... read more and watch video.

Border Patrol agent kills mother of five

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At 13h00 on Friday, Valeria "Monique" Alvarado was killed on a residential street in Chula Vista, California. Border Patrol officials are claiming that the woman "assaulted" the officer by running him down with her vehicle... read more.

Occupy Oakland rally in support of South African Miners (photos)

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Digital Journal's contact at Occupy Oakland reports that a group of around 100 Occupy Oakland members turned out in Oscar Grant Plaza in downtown Oakland, CA on Friday, carrying banners and placards and handing out pamphlets to the public, about the recent shooting of striking miners at the Lonmin PLC Marikana platinum mine in South Africa... read more.

Occupy Oakland to rally in support of South African miners

On Friday, August 24, Occupy Oakland will assemble in Oscar Grant Plaza in downtown Oakland, CA, to show their support for and solidarity with South African miners over the recent shooting incident.

Digital Journal reported recently on the police shooting of protesting Marikana mine workers in South Africa, which resulted in the deaths of 45 people and the injury of an additional 78.

Miners were striking for a decent living wage on August 16, 2012 at a platinum mine owned by Lonmin in the Marikana area, close to Rustenburg, South Africa... read more.

Mass shooting in Dothan, Alabama nightclub leaves 3 dead

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The suspect, 22-year-old Ryan Clark Peterson of Enterprise, AL was apparently kicked out of the Teaser's strip club, just before midnight on Thursday for "acting inappropriately with one of the employees." ... read more.

Sikh temple shooter died of self-inflicted wound

Wade Michael Page died of a self-inflicted wound to the head, after being shot by police, following the shooting massacre at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Preliminary police reports filed after the Sunday morning shooting at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, suggested that Page was killed by police officers in a standoff, after he had fired on congregants with a 9mm pistol, shortly before Sunday services, killing six people... read more and watch FBI press conference.

Wisconsin shooter identified as white supremacist

The shooter in the Sikh temple massacre that killed six people has been identified as Wade Michael Page, 40, a U.S. Army veteran who is believed to be a white supremacist.

Digital Journal reported on the shooting at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, which left six people dead, including the gunman, and at least 20 injured.

According to police officials, the gunman, carrying a 9 millimeter semi-automatic handgun and with a 9/11 tattoo on his left shoulder, entered the temple about 10:15 a.m. He then began firing at priests gathered in the lobby... read more.

Multiple shooters at Wisconsin Sikh Temple shooting?

There was supposed to be just one gunman involved in the tragic shooting at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. This gunman was shot by police. Case closed. However, witness statements on YouTube videos say otherwise.

Digital Journal reported on August 5, on the tragic shooting of 7 people, and injuring of at least 20 more, at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. At that time it was reported that a single gunman was responsible for the tragedy, and was shot dead by police... read more and hear witness statements.

7 killed, 20 injured in shooting in Sikh temple in Wisconsin

Seven people are dead, and at least twenty have been injured in a shooting at an Oak Creek, Wisconsin Sikh temple. The gunman is among the dead.

Seven people were killed and at least twenty injured as a gunman took over a Sikh temple in Oak Creek Wisconsin. Many people reported having been taken hostage by the gunman... read more.

Family of the 'Colorado shooter' to stand by their son

Lisa Damiani, lawyer for James Eagan Holmes, said at a press conference yesterday that his family support their son, suspected of killing 12 people and wounding 58 more.

Asked by a reporter outside the courtroom, after the initial hearing in the Colorado shooting case, whether the family were supporting their son, Damiani said, "Yes they do. He's their son."

She further said that the family was holding up "as well as anyone could under the circumstances." She said the family's hearts go out to the victims and their families... read more.

Colorado shooter: Police find 30 explosive devices in apartment

Officials said today that the booby-trapped apartment of mass shooting suspect, James Eagan Holmes, was "designed to kill."

In a complex operation to disarm the sophisticated explosives in the apartment, without destroying evidence, the FBI have now managed to access the shooter's apartment.

FBI agent, Jim Yacone, said, "This was certainly challenging". Yacone then confirmed the discovery of sophisticated explosive devices, and how they had to use a robot to disarm a trip wire and the primary bomb.... read more.

12 killed in shooting at 'The Dark Knight Rises' premiere

12 were killed and 38 injured in Aurora, near Denver, Colorado when attending a midnight showing of the new Batman film.

The movie theater was packed for the midnight premiere of the new movie and many of those present were young fans.

According to witnesses, the violence erupted around 15 minutes into the movie. Some witnesses say they thought it was some new type of special effect in the theater... read more.