The owner of Jameson, the dog who was shot and killed last month by a Los Angeles police officer in Canoga Park, has filed a federal lawsuit against the LAPD.
In the suit, Marie Marseille, the dog’s owner, claims James was shot in cold blood. She said that he never bared his teeth or growled at the officers, nor did he display any intent to attack them. She also claimed that the officer who shot the dog used excessive force, wasn’t trained properly, and didn’t follow department policy in the use of force against animals.
The shooting happened on June 13. Officers responded to an apartment complex on Jordan Ave. after a neighbor asked for a wellness check on her neighbor, saying that she heard screaming coming from the apartment.
Body camera footage released by the police department showed the officers asking Marseille to put her dog away. When she closed the door, one of the officers was heard saying, “I ain’t getting bit by that, bro.”
When Marseille returned, the officer asked her if the dog was put away, to which she responded, “Sorry. He’s not…he’s not aggressive at all. I apologize.”
As Marseille turns away, Jameson comes out and goes toward the officer. The officer pulled out his gun, and Jameson started barking. The officer then fired multiple shots.
Department officials contend Jameson barked and moved toward an officer when he was shot. Chief Michel Moore called it a tragic incident. Mayor Karen Bass said she wanted to reexamine the department’s policy regarding the use of force against animals. The department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating the officer.
The family’s attorney plans a news conference on Tuesday about the lawsuit. KNX News’ Jon Baird reported that the LAPD won’t comment on the pending lawsuit
A GoFundMe page for Jameson’s family is at $248,824 on Friday afternoon.
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