Dog Wearing Knicks Jersey Killed by LAPD Officer Who 'Didn't Want to Risk Being Bitten' | VIDEO
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
By Pranjal Gupta
New Delhi, June 21: Screams of joy as she cheered her favourite team in the NBA Finals on June 13 turned into cries of grief for Marie Marseille when a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer shot and killed her pet dog during what appears to have been a misunderstanding. A body-camera captured the entire incident, showing Marseille's dog stepping out of the apartment and barking at officers before one of them opened fire. The disturbing footage sparked widespread outrage and prompted the LAPD to promise a thorough investigation.
Police arrived at Marseille's apartment after receiving a 911 call reporting that a woman was screaming inside the residence. Officers responded to the scene expecting a possible emergency, said a report by The Guardian.
However, they soon discovered that the noise was not a sign of distress. Marseille had simply been celebrating after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA Finals.
Body-camera footage shows Marseille opening her apartment door as officers approached. Her two-year-old golden Saint Bernard doodle, Jameson, immediately ran towards the entrance and began barking.
One officer quickly drew his firearm, initially pointing it towards the ground before raising it towards the doorway. The officers appeared concerned by the dog's size.
"Put your dog away!" one officer shouted. Another officer, whose camera recorded the encounter, remarked on the dog's size. The officer holding the gun then told his colleague that he did not want to risk being bitten.
Marseille returned to the doorway and appeared to hold the door in an effort to keep Jameson inside. She repeatedly told the officers that her dog was not aggressive, but she did not fully close the door.
Moments later, Jameson, wearing a blue New York Knicks jersey, stepped into the hallway again. He barked at the officers, paused briefly, and then moved forward while barking once more.
The officer who had already drawn his pistol then fired four shots. The footage shows Marseille and the second officer standing behind the dog when the shots were fired. The second officer also appeared to raise a handgun shortly before his partner opened fire.
The video has raised further questions about police conduct. Images from the body-camera footage appear to show that the second officer may have been carrying two firearms. During the initial encounter, his hand remained close to what appeared to be his service weapon.
Later, after Marseille attempted to secure Jameson inside the apartment, he seemed to draw another pistol with his other hand and kept it visible for the remainder of the incident.
Following the shooting, a video of Marseille sobbing and embracing Jameson's body spread rapidly across social media, triggering public anger and demands for accountability.
LAPD Response
Responding to the backlash, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she had spoken with Police Chief Jim McDonnell and requested a full investigation into the use of force and the circumstances surrounding the dog's death.
The release of the body-camera footage has also drawn scrutiny from journalists and police watchdogs. NBC4 reporter Eric Leonard noted that the LAPD released the footage unusually quickly following the incident. However, he pointed out that the department did not provide the original, unedited recording.
Instead, police released an edited version of the footage and blurred the faces of the officers involved. Leonard described the move as highly unusual, saying he could not recall another instance in which LAPD had blurred officers' faces before publicly releasing body-camera video.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities review whether the officers acted appropriately during the encounter.
