LAPD officers fatally shoot family dog during Knicks celebration in Canoga Park
Police responding to a noise complaint in a Canoga Park condo shot and killed a two-year-old mixed-breed dog after the animal allegedly charged officers, prompting an investigation.
Police were called to a condominium on Jordan Avenue in Canoga Park shortly after 8 p.m. after a neighbor reported a woman screaming inside the unit. Officers arrived and encountered a two-year-old golden retriever, Saint Bernard and poodle mix named James Jameson. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the dog rushed at the officers, leading one officer to fire his weapon, killing the animal.
"The screaming I heard was like, 'Ah! Oh my God! Oh my God!' Like just, pure screaming," said Raymon Alvarez, a resident who heard the disturbance while walking his dog.
"I didn't think they were gunshots at first because this area is not really known for any sort of gun violence," Alvarez added.
The incident occurred while the dog's owner was celebrating the New York Knicks' NBA championship win with her family. A photo taken moments before the shooting showed the dog wearing a Knicks shirt. Neighbors recorded the aftermath on cellphone video, capturing the woman's distress and a growing memorial in the hallway.
The Los Angeles Police Department said the circumstances surrounding the shooting are under review.
