Pennsylvania Game Commission officials told NBC 10 on Thursday that a deer involved in a well-publicized incident at a local restaurant has been euthanized.

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Deer Stops In Fast Food Joint

The young buck was tranquilized at Royal Fried Chicken, a Southwest Philadelphia fast food restaurant, on Wednesday night.

Originally, officials said the deer only suffered some scratches and was to be taken back to Cobbs Creek Park and released back into the wild.

However, the game official said the deer was put to sleep because archery deer season opens on Saturday, and there was the possibility that a hunter shooting that deer would get contaminated meat.

The game official also said the deer's meat would not be safe to eat within 35 days of being tranquilized.

The scared deer trapped four people in the Philadelphia restaurant for about an hour last night, before the people escaped through a basement hatch.

"It's absolutely bizarre," said restaurant owner Naser Shaahalmi. "The most weirdest stuff I've ever seen."

The deer darted into Royal Fried Chicken at 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday. The unusual visitor quickly drew a crowd outside the restaurant.

Four people, including Shaahalmi, were trapped inside the restaurant for more than an hour. They locked themselves in a back room to stay away from the frightened deer until they escaped through the hatch.

"I was like 'open the back door,' and they opened the back door and then we ran in the back and started screaming and deer started trying to get back to the door where were at, attacking us," said Tawana Coleman.

"My heart just dropped. I never seen this before in my life. It was like a dream," said Danaya Rousseau.

Police believe the buck came from Cobb's Creek Park looking for food. The park is about 10 blocks away from the restaurant.

Police say the deer was seen around the neighborhood throughout the day.

Officers say they unsuccessfully tried to corral the buck a few blocks away from the restaurant. But the deer kept running and when the door to the restaurant was open, the deer ran right in.

"I'm just relieved," said Shavon Butler. "It was a little intense in the beginning but we just sat back there, nothing much we could do but sit and wait."