Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass publicly condemned the LAPD shooting that killed a dog during a neighborhood celebration of the New York Knicks' NBA championship, calling the incident disturbing and tragic. The statement came after bodycam footage from the encounter was released.
Bass confirmed in a statement posted to X that she and LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell jointly agreed to release the footage quickly.
"What I saw on the bodycam footage is disturbing and tragic," the mayor wrote. "The Chief and I agreed that it was important to release the bodycam footage swiftly. While the investigation is ongoing, I am very concerned about why shots were fired and Jameson [the dog] was killed."
The dog, Jameson, was a golden retriever-poodle mix. Officers had been called to a Canoga Park apartment for a welfare check after screaming was heard from the unit. The resident, identified as Marie Marseille, was celebrating the Knicks championship win, which is why she was yelling. When Jameson escaped from the apartment, an officer fired multiple shots at the pet.
The incident went viral earlier in the week before the footage was released. According to The Wrap, Bass directed the Police Commission President and the chief to review the department's use of force policy on dog encounters and examine best practices from around the country.
"This shooting makes clear that while LAPD provides officers with written guidance on the use of force and pets, this is not enough," Bass wrote. She added that she has directed officials to use the incident as an opportunity to update tactics, policies, and training related to lethal force, with the goal of increasing safety for officers, residents, and their pets.
Marseille's family, in a statement released to ABC7 through their attorney, described the shooting as completely unnecessary. The statement detailed that Marseille was cooperative and polite throughout the encounter and had repeatedly told officers that Jameson was not dangerous.
"Yet the shooting officer appears to have had his firearm drawn virtually from the beginning of the encounter. He had his gun drawn before Jameson emerged. He had his gun drawn while Jameson was inside the apartment. He had his gun drawn after Marie closed the door. He had his gun drawn when the door reopened. Throughout the encounter, the officer repeatedly used profanity, focused on the dog's size, and displayed an aggressive attitude during what was supposed to be a welfare check," the statement read.
The investigation remains ongoing. Bass is currently seeking re-election against fellow Democrat and City Councilmember Nithya Raman.
