Family Says Officer Overreacted by Shooting, Killing Dog

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A family said they are devastated after an Oklahoma City police officer shot and killed their dog.

According to a police report, the officer was well within his rights to shoot the dog because the dog was acting aggressively. However the owners said, while their dog was barking, the officer overreacted.

The reason the Oklahoma City police officers came to the family's house in the first place was because of concern over a boat motor the family had for sale on Craigslist. The motor was thought to have been stolen but that turned out not to be true.

When officers went to examine the motor, they were met by Noventa, a 3-year-old pit bull mix. According to the police report Noventa lunged at the officer, something the dog's owner, who was just feet away from the officer, said was a lie.

"She was just being a normal dog, barking. She might have been pouncing up and down, but she wasn't lunging at the officer," Knight said.

But Oklahoma City Police Captain Patrick Stewart said sometimes when an officer feels they are put in threatening situation, they must defend themselves.

"An officer has to make a decision whether or not they are going to use something to try and get that dog from biting them and potentially injuring them," Stewart said.

In light of the officer shooting and killing their dog, the family said they are perusing legal action against the police department. They said if they can't get the officer fired at the very least they hope he will get suspended.

A spokesperson for the Oklahoma City Police Department said the incident is under investigation.