A mountain lion was shot and killed near two Des Moines schools Thursday morning.
Police were called to the Highland Park neighborhood on the city's north side where a police officer shot the big cat near a greenhouse in the back yard of a home close to Harding Middle School and Madison Elementary School.
Police Sgt. Chris Scott says the male mountain lion, which measured 6-feet-3-inches from its nose to its tail, was found under some plants. He says it made a "dashing move" leaving officers no choice but to shoot it.
A mountain lion was spotted just west of the area on July 12th. Police checked the neighborhood, but didn't find the animal.
