LA Leaders Demand Investigation After Police Shoot and Kill Dog
Los Angeles police officers shot and killed a two-year-old golden Saint Bernard doodle named Jameson after the dog slipped out of its owner's apartment and lunged at an officer. City officials, including the mayor and a councilmember, have called for a thorough investigation.
The Los Angeles Police Department is facing mounting scrutiny after officers shot and killed a two-year-old golden Saint Bernard doodle on Saturday in the Canoga Park neighborhood. Officers responded to a radio call about a "screaming woman," which turned out to be celebratory noise from a New York Knicks championship win.
Upon arrival, the person who reported the noise directed them to an apartment where a woman was inside with a large dog that was barking at the officers. According to police, the woman was instructed to secure the dog and closed the door. When she reopened it, the dog slipped out and charged at an officer, leading to the shooting.
A viral video shows the dog's owner, identified by NBC News as Marie Marseille, sobbing and hugging her deceased dog, Jameson. "He wasn't doing anything. He didn't do anything. I know he didn't," she told NBC. Jameson was shot twice within seconds.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a Wednesday statement that she had spoken to Police Chief Jim McDonnell to ensure an investigation. "Every life lost to violence is a tragedy, and we know that the devastating loss of Jameson will be felt by his family forever," she said, promising a thorough and transparent investigation.
City Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is running against Bass in November's mayoral election, urged the LAPD to "promptly" release body-worn camera footage. "I'm horrified by what happened in Canoga Park on Saturday. My heart is with Jameson's family," Raman wrote on X, calling the outcome unacceptable and noting that it shakes trust in the public safety system.
A GoFundMe titled "Justice for Jameson" has raised over $170,000, far exceeding its $10,000 goal. The fundraiser describes Jameson as "the sweetest boy in the world."
