Neighbor who called 911 apologizes after LAPD fatally shoots dog during Knicks celebration in Canoga Park – ABC7 Exclusive
CANOGA PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A neighbor who called 911 during what they believed was a welfare emergency in Canoga Park is speaking out, saying they feel responsible after Los Angeles police shot and killed a dog at a nearby home during a New York Knicks’ championship celebration.
Police responded Saturday evening to reports of screaming coming from a residence on Jordan Avenue. The situation ended in tragedy when officers shot and killed a golden retriever-poodle mix named Jameson.
A celebration for the Knicks turned tragic on Saturday in Canoga Park when police officers responding to a call about a screaming woman shot and killed her dog.
The dog’s owner, identified as Marie, had been celebrating the Knicks’ win, according to witnesses.
The neighbor, who asked not to be identified out of fear for their safety after receiving online threats, spoke with Eyewitness News exclusively and said they have struggled in the days since the incident and are apologizing publicly.
“I feel responsible for what happened,” the neighbor said. “I’m so sorry. I never wanted anything bad to happen. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
The neighbor said they were walking outside their condo building when they heard Marie screaming and tried to make contact.
“I was screaming to her balcony for a while, I called several times. I kept going, ‘Hello? Are you ok?’ And I didn’t hear a TV. She didn’t answer me. She just kept on screaming,” they said.
The neighbor added that past experiences with domestic violence influenced their decision to call police.
When officers arrived, the neighbor described what they saw and heard.
“They were very hostile and they were banging on that door. It sounded like it was with a baton or something, and they were like, ‘LAPD! Answer your door! LAPD!’ That’s not how I thought a wellness check would go,” the neighbor said.
The Los Angeles Police Department said the dog rushed toward officers and attacked them, prompting the shooting.
The neighbor said they heard the encounter unfold.
“I heard barking and they said, ‘Put your dog away!’ and barking continued after a second, and then five gun shots. Back-to-back – boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,” they said.
Video from the scene shows the dog’s owner grieving moments after the shooting.
“Oh my God! Oh my God!” she cried. “He’s such a good dog!”
The owner’s son, speaking off camera, described Jameson as energetic but not violent.
Support for the family has grown online. A GoFundMe created in Jameson’s name has raised nearly $200,000.
The neighbor said the incident has changed how they view calling law enforcement.
“I think it’s taught me not to trust LAPD, and that next time, I will probably go myself and check on my neighbor,” they said.
They also offered a direct apology to the dog’s owner.
“Marie, I’m so sorry. I thought I was doing the right thing. I never imagined something like this could happen. I feel so guilty and shameful, and I wish I could tell you this in person but I’m scared,” the neighbor said.
In a statement released through an attorney, the family said their focus remains on the circumstances surrounding the dog’s death.
“The family’s focus remains on the events that resulted in the unnecessary shooting and killing of their beloved dog,” the statement said.
“Marie and Jeremiah continue to call upon the Los Angeles Police Department to acknowledge that the use of deadly force against Jameson was unnecessary, to accept responsibility for the decisions that led to his death, and to be fully transparent regarding the investigation, its findings, and any corrective action taken.”
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell has promised a comprehensive review of the shooting, including the public release of body camera video. According to the family’s attorney, relatives are scheduled to view the footage Friday.
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