Brad McMichael, a 45-year-old farmer from Jones, Oklahoma, was fatally attacked by two water buffaloes he had purchased only a day earlier. The fatal incident occurred on Friday in Jones, a small town about 30 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.
According to his family, McMichael bought the animals at a livestock auction the day before the attack, viewing them as a new opportunity for meat production on his farm. The reason behind the buffaloes’ sudden aggression remains unclear.
While wild water buffaloes are known for their unpredictability, domesticated ones are typically calm when used for farming or milk production. However, experts note they can become dangerous if stressed, provoked, or disoriented—particularly during transport or in unfamiliar environments.
McMichael’s longtime girlfriend, Jennifer Green, told KOCO News that he was an experienced livestock handler who had worked with animals for years. “He saw the buffaloes as an opportunity,” she said. “But livestock can be aggressive at any moment — especially when they’re coming from an auction or adjusting to a new owner.”
The two buffaloes were euthanized after they reportedly showed aggression toward responding police officers, authorities in Jones confirmed.
Green described McMichael as someone who loved both animals and life. “As tragic as this is, he died doing something he loved,” she said. “He loved to laugh and to make others laugh. Those who truly knew him know what a huge loss this is and how difficult that void will be to fill.”
