LAPD releases body camera footage showing officer shooting dog in Knicks shirt after 911 call
The Los Angeles Police Department has released body camera footage showing an officer fatally shooting a resident's dog after answering a 911 call, which turned out to be a false alarm over a woman celebrating the New York Knicks' NBA championship win on Saturday.
The excerpts of the body camera footage were released Friday, along with parts of the 911 call leading up to the shooting of the dog named "Jameson."
The department said a use-of-force investigation remains ongoing and could take up to a year to complete.
LA Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement following the release of the footage, saying she has directed the department to examine its use-of-force policies relating to encounters with dogs.
"What I saw on the bodycam footage is disturbing and tragic," Bass said in the statement. "The Chief and I agreed that it was important to release the bodycam footage swiftly. While the investigation is ongoing, I am very concerned about why shots were fired and Jameson was killed."
The LAPD said officers were called to the condo in the Canoga Park neighborhood around 8:55 p.m. Saturday for a 911 call from a neighbor who reported hearing a woman screaming.
"They're just screaming like something horrible happened," the 911 caller tells the dispatcher, according to an excerpt of the call released by the LAPD.
Witnesses and the son of the woman, however, later told ABC News Los Angeles station KABC that she was just celebrating the Knicks' victory that night.
The body camera footage shows two officers showing up at the woman's door.
When the woman opens her door, her dog -- a golden retriever–Saint Bernard and poodle mix in a blue Knicks shirt -- is seen by her side and begins barking. Both officers and the woman's face are blurred on the video released by the LAPD.
The officers ask the woman to put her dog away. One of the officers says, "Dude, I ain't getting bit by that, bro," according to the video.
After the woman reopens the door, she tells officers, "Sorry, ... He's not aggressive."
The video then shows the dog, exiting from the door, which is slightly ajar, and begin moving toward one of the officers. The LAPD said the dog "charged at one of the officers," prompting one of them to open fire, according to the LAPD.
The incident has stirred protests in Los Angeles and a vigil for Jameson was planned for Friday night.
After the incident, cell phone video circulated online of a woman crying over the dog's body shouting "We were just celebrating the Knicks."
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement Wednesday that the department is thoroughly investigating the incident, which he called "incredibly tragic," and vowed transparency.
"The loss of a pet is deeply personal. For many, a dog is not simply an animal; it is a companion, a source of comfort, and a member of the family," McDonnell said in his statement.
"There is no incident more serious than when an officer fires a service weapon. For this reason, the LAPD has a specialized division of investigators specifically trained to handle these types of incidents. A thorough, multi-layered examination of this weekend's incident in Canoga Park is already underway, but it will take time to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability," he added.
The neighbor who called police later told Los Angeles ABC station KABC that they felt guilty about calling 911, but sincerely thought the woman was in trouble.
A memorial for Jameson was formed outside the condo and an online fundraiser has raised thousands of dollars for its family.
Local activists have called for more details about the incident.
"The tragic killing of Jameson was unnecessary and unwarranted," Najee Ali, a senior organizer with the Los Angeles National Action Network, said during a news conference Tuesday.
"We demand immediate accountability, which can only happen through the prompt release of the body-worn camera footage and the names of the officers responsible for shooting and killing Jameson," he added.
ABC's Alex Stone contributed to this report.
