An official says an earlier report that the whale, stranded in East Hampton since Tuesday, had died was inaccurate as shots were heard on the beach.

Here's the deal: One Riverhead Foundation official had said it died overnight. Then another one took it back.

Update: Yes, it CAN get crazier. This just in:

A scientist armed with a hunting rifle shot the stranded humpback whale in East Hampton Friday morning, after an earlier attempt to euthanize the animal resulted in a 2-foot-long tranquilizer dart being lost in the surf, sources said.

Find out the latest.

Search for suspect leads to school lockout ... Town approves new Chick-fil-A ... Traveling with Blakeman as he campaigns upstate Credit: Newsday

AG: Babylon school officials let misconduct be 'normalized' ... Search for suspect leads to school lockout ... House speaker on LI ... Working Moms: Negotiating a return to work

Search for suspect leads to school lockout ... Town approves new Chick-fil-A ... Traveling with Blakeman as he campaigns upstate Credit: Newsday

AG: Babylon school officials let misconduct be 'normalized' ... Search for suspect leads to school lockout ... House speaker on LI ... Working Moms: Negotiating a return to work

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