RSS
Home
Rescued dog shot by police
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
Coco was shot by police in his own
back yard. Photo: LV Review-Journal
When Jose Fernandez and Yurisel Del La Torre of Las Vegas, NV walked the halls of the city animal shelter all of the dogs barked and jumped, trying to get their attention. Then they saw Coco, a three-year-old Pit bull terrier who sat quietly and put his head against the cage door hoping for them to stop and pet him. They fell in love with the big canine and took him home.
That was three years ago. Coco remained a gentle giant in their household, playing with the four Chihuahuas in the family and resting his face in the tiny lap of their six month old daughter. He was the perfect family pet, until police officers shot him in his own backyard.
The shooting occurred at 5:00a.m. Friday morning when officers began searching for a DUI suspect who abandoned his car and ran on foot into a neighborhood. Seven officers pursued the suspect while a helicopter flew overhead. The helicopter reported seeing someone running into a shed located in the backyard of the Fernandez home.
The police jumped the fence and encountered Coco sitting in his own yard. Two shots were fired and Coco was dead. The police department called the incident a “mistake” and offered apologies to the family.
Police spokesperson, Bill Cassell said, “The officer did everything he could to avoid shooting at the dog. Ultimately he was forced to fire in self-defense.”
In an instant, Fernandez and De La Torre’s beloved pet was gone. The couple does not believe Coco could have hurt the officer and are upset that they entered their property before asking. Even neighbors, who were awakened by police searching in their own yards, said they never heard Coco bark or growl during the incident. The DUI suspect was found in another part of the neighborhood and arrested.
Fernandez said, “I don’t think it’s right. It wasn’t like he (suspect) was a killer.”
The family is heartbroken over the death of Coco. They wanted their daughter to grow up with him. And to add further insult, Fernandez displayed a receipt for $225.45 that he paid to have Coco cremated.
Fernandez said, “He wasn’t a dog. He was family.”
clicking on "SUBSCRIBE" below.
Related Articles:
Comments
