LAPD Releases Bodycam Footage of Officer Shooting Woman's Dog During Noise Complaint Call
The Los Angeles Police Department published edited body-worn camera footage showing an officer fatally shooting a woman's dog outside her apartment after responding to a noise complaint that turned out to be cheering for the NBA finals.
Incident details
On June 13, LAPD officers responded to a report of a woman screaming in the Canoga Park neighborhood. The noise actually came from cheering after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA finals. Body-camera footage shows the moment Marie Marseille opens her door. Her two-year-old golden Saint Bernard doodle named Jameson, wearing a Knicks jersey, runs to the door and barks. One officer immediately draws his gun, shouting "Put your dog away!" while another officer remarks "That's a big-ass dog" and says he won't get bitten.
The shooting
Marseille tells officers the dog is not aggressive and tries to hold the door but does not shut it completely. The dog steps into the hallway and barks again, then takes a step forward. The officer fires four shots, killing the dog. The other officer also appears to draw a weapon. After the shooting, Marseille is seen sobbing and hugging her dog's body. The video went viral.
Aftermath
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she spoke with Police Chief Jim McDonnell to ensure an investigation. LAPD released the footage faster than usual but edited it, blurring officers' faces. NBC4 reporter Eric Leonard called this unprecedented, noting he had never seen face blurring in such videos before.
