LAPD releases footage of officers fatally shooting woman's dog

The Los Angeles Police Department has released body-camera footage capturing the fatal shooting of a woman's dog by officers in the Canoga Park neighborhood. The incident unfolded on June 13 after police responded to reports of a woman screaming, which was later clarified as cheering during an NBA finals game.

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Put your dog away!

The footage shows officers arriving at Marie Marseille's apartment. As she opened the door, her two-year-old golden Saint Bernard doodle, named Jameson, ran out barking. An officer immediately drew his weapon, initially aiming it downward before raising it toward the doorway. Commands were issued to put the dog away, with one officer expressing concern about its size and the risk of being bitten.

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That’s a big-ass dog.

Marseille attempted to restrain the dog, assuring officers it was not aggressive. However, the dog re-entered the hallway, barked again, and moved toward the officers. The officer with the drawn pistol then fired four times, killing the dog. The video also suggests another officer may have had a second firearm and pointed it directly at Marseille during an earlier, calmer exchange.

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I ain’t getting bit by that, bro.

The release of the edited footage, which unusually blurs the faces of the officers involved, has been noted by reporters. While the LAPD released the video faster than its typical timeline, the absence of raw footage and the obscured faces are departures from standard practice. The shooting gained wider attention after a video of Marseille mourning her dog went viral, prompting Mayor Karen Bass to speak with the police chief about the use of force investigation.

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We’ve been looking at these body-worn videos for years. I don’t remember another instance where officers’ faces were blurred ever before.