Full Breakdown
LAPD Dog Shootings Under Scrutiny
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
On October 8, 2026, a Los Angeles police officer fired into a pit-bull named Kush inside a Hollywood apartment while Neveah Aguilar, then 7, watched. The shot struck the dog’s jaw; Kush survived but required hours of care before animal control removed him. A separate 2024 incident in Canoga Park involved a 2-year-old Golden Saint Bernard Doodle, Jameson, who was fatally shot after approaching an officer who had knocked on the owner’s door during an NBA Championship celebration. Both cases have prompted families to seek accountability and have drawn public attention to LAPD policies on lethal force against animals.
Historical Data on Police Dog Shootings
CBS California Investigates examined LAPD Use-of-Force reports for the past decade and identified 67 dog shootings, 45 of which involved pit bulls. The department recorded 19 incidents in 2016, with 12 dogs killed, and 11 shootings in 2015, eight of which were fatal. The frequency has declined, reaching a single incident in 2024, but four shootings have already occurred in 2026, resulting in three deaths.
Legal Actions and Community Impact
Norma Lopez, Aguilar’s mother, sued the LAPD for an unlawful home entry during the 2018 investigation of a separate shooting. Her attorney, Theida Salazar, noted that police dog shootings were “common” when she handled the case. The lawsuit was settled, though settlement terms remain undisclosed. Aguilar’s daughter, now a high-school freshman, says she still fears police despite being raised to respect them. The family’s experience has become a focal point for broader concerns about police tactics and the psychological toll on children who witness such force.
Official Responses
The LAPD declined a formal interview but issued a statement indicating that the department is conducting a comprehensive review of tactics, training, and best practices related to dog encounters. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ordered a review of lethal-force protocols for animal encounters following Jameson’s death, though the department has not yet amended the 2023 “Dog Encounters” Directive.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I don't want it to happen again.” — Neveah Aguilar, CBS News
- “At this time, the Department is conducting a comprehensive review of tactics, training, and best practices.” — Theida Salazar, CBS News
- “If just a little more patience had been exercised, the dog would not have been shot, and I believe in the same instance in Canoga Park,” — Theida Salazar, CBS News