Police Officer Shoots Pit Bull Puppy, Reloads and Continues Shooting

The Cabrera family’s dog, Gotti, was shot and killed by police last Wednesday.

Police in Elkhart, Indiana were called with reports a dog running loose in the street last Wednesday. When they arrived, officers spotted Gotti, a 10-month old Pit Bull, loose in the Cabrera family’s front yard.

The officer spoke with Raul Cabrera, explaining to him that the dog, who was normally leashed when outside, but had slipped from his collar, could not be running loose outside. Cabrera, who was in the process of building a fence for his dog, led Gotti back inside, but the dog turned and sprinted back into the yard before he closed the door.

Gotti didn’t make it far. The officer, who said in his report that the dog charged him viciously, fired multiple gunshots at the dog.

Neighbors and witnesses say the officer fired at least 10 times, possibly 13. The officer was seen at one point reloading his gun before continuing to shoot.

The Elkhart Truth reported:

The first round of fire was two to four shots, according to the Cabreras and neighbors who were watching from their yards. Neighbor Angie Castillo yelled at the officer to stop.

The pit bull stumbled in a leaf pile in the middle of the yard and the officer fired three to four more shots at the yelping dog, then walked up to him and shot four to six more times, the family and neighbors said.

Neighbors, still in shock and scared for their own safety, said Gotti wasn’t even running toward the officer, but was playfully running toward the driveway, on the opposite side of the yard.

Police are investigating the incident.

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