A Bengal tiger has been spotted on the loose in a suburban neighbourhood - as police hunt its apparent owner for murder.
Bizarre footage shows the big cat roaming around a residential area in Houston, Texas at around 8pm on Sunday.
An off-duty local deputy then turns up to investigate, approaching the animal with a drawn weapon.
It was then that a man emerged from his house, shouting: "Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"
He collared the tiger before racing off in a white Jeep - and police say they now want him for murder.
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A brief car chase ensued after officers were called to the scene before the man escaped, a local commander said.
Houston Police Department's Ron Borza said on Monday: "We are actively looking for him today.
"Obviously, if you see a Cherokee with a big tiger in it, it’d be good to call us."
The suspect, who has not yet been charged over the tiger incident, was out on $250,000 (£177,007) bond on a murder charge filed in November, according to the New York Post.
The man was leasing the home and is believed to have two monkeys inside as well, Mr Borza said.
"I just want to get him into custody," he added, while stating adding that the investigation remained in its very early stages.
"My main concern right now is focusing on finding him and finding the tiger. Because what I don’t want him to do is harm the tiger."
Shocked neighbours said they had spotted the loose tiger stalking past houses shortly before the chase on Sunday night.
Jose Ramos, the first person to see the tiger, immediately posted on his neighborhood blog to alert others to the danger.
The off-duty officer with the gun can be heard saying: “Get the f–k back inside. F–k you and your f–king tiger,” as he confronts the animal.
The landlord of the property said he was unaware a tiger was living there, according to reports.
Up to 5,000 tigers are thought to be living in captivity in the US, a problem highlighted by the hit Netflix series 'Tiger King'.
