LAPD Shoots Family Dog After Knicks Celebration

LAPD officers fatally shot a family's golden Saint Bernard doodle named Jameson after responding to a noise complaint at an apartment in Canoga Park, California. The incident occurred shortly after the New York Knicks won their NBA championship on Saturday night.

The LAPD received a call about a screaming woman and were directed to an apartment unit where they encountered Jameson barking at officers. According to bodycam footage released by the LAPD, one officer asked the resident Marie Marseille to secure the dog, but when it exited the apartment again, it allegedly charged at him, resulting in an officer-involved shooting.

A viral video circulating on social media shows Marie Marseille sobbing over her dog's lifeless body. The footage has garnered millions of views and sparked public outrage. A GoFundMe appeal to cover cremation costs for Jameson quickly surpassed $125,000, more than ten times its initial target.

Marie Marseille told Fox 11 that Jameson was not aggressive and did not bark or growl before being shot. She described the dog as approaching the officers calmly. The LAPD's preliminary report claims that Jameson charged one of the officers, leading to the shooting. The incident has led to calls for accountability and transparency from advocacy groups like the Los Angeles National Action Network.

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass stated she had spoken to the police chief Jim McDonnell to ensure an investigation into the incident. 'Every life lost to violence is a tragedy, and we know that the devastating loss of Jameson will be felt by his family forever,' Bass said in a statement. She promised a thorough and transparent investigation so Angelenos have a complete understanding of what happened.

City councilmember Nithya Raman urged the LAPD to promptly release body-worn camera footage from the incident, stating that whatever the investigation ultimately finds, the outcome is unacceptable and shakes an already fragile trust in the public safety system. The GoFundMe campaign named 'Justice for Jameson' has amassed more than $125,000 in donations.

Activists have planned a rally and candlelight vigil outside the Los Angeles Police Department headquarters on Friday night to demand justice after a Canoga Park family's dog was fatally shot by police while they were celebrating the New York Knicks' NBA Championship. Hundreds of people are expected to join the event, which was planned by the National Action Network.

According to The Guardian and Los Angeles Times, California does not mandate canine encounter training for police officers. The LAPD issues a detailed guideline in the form of a bulletin to police officers. An attempt to mandate such training failed to get approval by state lawmakers in 2017.