Over the next ten minutes, Harambe became increasingly "agitated and disoriented" by the screams of onlookers.[10][11] He dragged the child through the water, occasionally propping him up when he sat, or pushing him down when he stood.[10] Harambe exhibited "strutting" behavior—walking around with legs and arms stiffly extended to appear bigger—a bluffing move, though one with inherent danger should he throw or drag the boy around too roughly.[11] Harambe then carried the boy up a ladder out of the moat onto dry land. Afraid for the boy's life, zoo officials made the decision to kill the gorilla, doing so with a single gunshot. Cincinnati firefighters said the boy was between Harambe's legs when the shot was fired.[8] Harambe was killed one day after his 17th birthday.[10]