PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — An FBI agent shot an "aggressive" dog in Center City Monday night.
It happened on Spruce Street, between 15th and 16th streets, in front of The Touraine luxury apartment building, according to the FBI.
Around 8 p.m., an FBI agent was walking her dog when two other leashed dogs passed by and at least one of them attacked, police said. Multiple sources identified the agent to KYW Newsradio as Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire.
“She had a smaller dog and a larger dog attacked that dog,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore. “When she tried to get her dog back, I think the dog attacked her.”
That’s when, police say, Maguire shot the pit bull. No other pet or person was hit by the gunfire.
“The FBI takes all shooting incidents involving our agents or task force members seriously,” the agency said in a statement. “We are working jointly with the Philadelphia Police Department and the FBI’s Inspection Division to investigate the incident.”
Maguire was off-duty at the time. The circumstances that led up to the shooting have not been made public.
Law enforcement officials did not disclose the dog’s condition, but animal rights advocates say the dog died.
Neighbors and animal rights activists staged a protest outside the FBI’s Philadelphia headquarters Tuesday morning.
Members of the animal rights group Revolution Philadelphia, led by Mansi Bhagwate, are outraged.
“I don’t understand why a firearm was drawn and a dog was killed on the street,” she said. “Civilians could have been hurt. This was a busy intersection.”
Bhagwate said they have been in contact with the distraught owner of the pit bull, named Mia.