FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — A family claims surveillance video shows the graphic, fatal shooting of their beloved pet by a police officer.
Gillian Palacios, the dog’s owner, said her dog Duchess ran out of the front door when an officer knocked on it.
Palacios said the two-year-old, 40-pound bull terrier mix ran outside and was fatally shot three times in the head by the officer.
Editor’s note: The video below contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.
The officer reportedly knocked on the door to let the family know their car door was open. Palacios can be seen opening the doo and the dog runs outside.
“Before I could even do anything, the officer had his gun out and shot her three times in the head,” she said.
The officer has been placed on administrative leave as officials investigate.
“There were a million things he could have done other that shoot her three times in the head,” Palacios said in an interview with WPLG.
“She was curious. She wasn’t barking (and) she wasn’t growling,” Palacios said in the video interview. “There was no reason for him to think she was aggressive in any way.”
Florida City police spokesman Officer Ken Armenteros defended the officer’s actions.
“We don’t have the luxury of hind sight,” Armenteros told WPLG. “We have to use the information that is given to us in a split second. So, the officer has to make that decision with the information that he has available.”