An empty Clanton store was broken into early Thursday morning — but not by your traditional intruder.

A deer entered the former location of Corner Fair, located at the corner of Second Avenue North and Seventh Street, shortly before 7 a.m.

The animal shattered three windows upon entering the store and went berserk, leaving blood all over mirrors and walls and nearly taking out a ceiling tile.

“He went through three windows, I guess, in one jump,” said Jud Messer, whose father, property owner Ken Messer, was in the hospital at the time.

“It pretty much looked like a murder scene in there.”

The deer was reportedly first seen along Highway 31 near Goose Pond Park and was followed through town. Clanton Animal Control Officer Chris Whittle contacted Jemison Animal Control Officer Bobby Tucker for assistance. Tucker used a tranquilizer gun to subdue the 80-pound animal, and the deer was later released into a wooded area outside the city.

Whittle said the break-in was a freak accident.

“This time of year [deer] start acting crazy,” he said.

Tommy Glasscock, son-in-law of the store owner, estimated the deer caused several thousand dollars in damage. The store had just recently closed.

“We’re just thankful he didn’t come in when the store was open,” Glasscock said. “I can only imagine what he thought when he came in and saw all the mirrors.”