LAPD officers fatally shoot dog during response to disturbance in Canoga Park
Police said a dog charged an officer after being released from an apartment, leading officers to fire; the incident has sparked public criticism.
Los Angeles police said officers shot a dog on Saturday night in the 7500 block of Jordan Avenue after responding to a call about a "screaming woman" in an apartment building. According to a department statement, the resident was speaking with officers when a large dog began barking at them. Officers asked her to secure the animal; she briefly closed the door, then reopened it, allowing the dog to exit. The statement added that the dog charged an officer, prompting the officers to fire.
A video posted on social media shows the woman, identified as Marie Marseille, holding the dog and crying while officers stand nearby. Neighbors can be heard expressing anger toward the officers. Marseille could not be reached for comment.
In a phone interview, the victim's sister, Vanessa Marseille, said the family was "shocked and devastated" by the dog's death and called the shooting "reckless," noting that the bullets could have injured people nearby. The family is raising funds through a GoFundMe campaign to cover cremation costs and seek what they describe as justice for the dog, named Jameson.
The LAPD confirmed that no officers were injured and that its Force Investigation Division is reviewing the shooting.
