Doggycide in Riverside, California

Brad (pitbull) & owner Christian Gonzalez (8)

One dead family pet, two different police accounts:

A Riverside family is upset that a police officer shot their pit bull to death as officers set up a perimeter in hopes of catching a murder suspect.

The incident occurred about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, on N. Orange Street when the family was not home.

Here’s the police’s original story:

Sharon Gonzalez, whose daughter Lindsey owned the 9-year-old pit bull named Brad, said an officer told them that the dog was shot through a gate because officers needed to get into the backyard two doors away from the suspect’s house.

“His only crime was barking and protecting his property,” Gonzalez said. “That’s why you get a dog.”

And here’s the second version:

Riverside police Lt. Guy Toussaint said that the officer was actually in the backyard, was charged by the dog and fired his gun to protect himself.

Naturally, the same officers who couldn’t decide on a coherent story for why they murdered a beloved familial companion in its own backyard also managed to lose their suspect. They did, however, apologize.

(via Facebook: Dogs Shot by Police)

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Doggycide Bingo Index

Confirmed hits:

Dead Brad

Brad was shot in own backyard

Cop shot first

Brad was barking protectively

Lt. Toussaint claims Brad was aggressive

Cop allegedly entered property illegally

Total: 6/25
No bingo.

Tags: Brad the pitbull • Christian Gonzalez • Sharon Gonzalez • Lindsey Gonzalez • Guy Toussaint • Riverside Police Department