Dog Shot, Killed by Murrieta Police After it Attacks 2 Others

This story was updated at 5:10 p.m. Nov. 30 to inlcude more information from a news release issued by Murrieta police.

An Akita dog was shot and killed by police Friday morning in Murrieta after it reportedly attacked two other dogs—killing one of them—and ultimately came at an officer, police said.

Murrieta police received a call at 7:53 a.m. Friday from a person walking their dog in the 24400 block of Skyview Ridge Drive who said a large male adult Akita wearing a collar had attacked their dog, a Corgi, according to Murrieta police Lt. Rob Firmes.

"The call was initially that a large dog had just attacked a small dog at the location," Firmes said. "The woman began striking the Akita with her umbrella as she attempted to save her own dog."

Firmes said good Samaritans came to the woman's aid and were able to quell the attack as the Akita fled.

"The reporting party called and followed the dog—the dog was covered in blood—which was now on Avenida Arconte and Skyview Ridge," Firmes said.

Murrieta police called Animal Friends of the Valleys for a priority response, then monitored the dog's movements until animal control officers could arrive, Firmes said.

Officers followed the dog—maintaining visual contact—to ensure the safety of children walking to nearby Shivela Middle School, Firmes said.

By about 8:27 a.m. the Akita had made its way several blocks to Alondra Drive and Alicia Way, where it attacked a leashed dog that was in its front yard with its owner, Firmes said.

A Murrieta officer used a Taser gun to shock the dog, which allowed the owner of the small dog to retreat into their home, Firmes said.

After the five-second shock from the Taser wore off, Firmes said "that is when (the dog) turned and came at the officer," who drew his gun and shot it.

"Fearing for his own safety, the officer drew his firearm and shot the approaching Akita, which died at the scene," Firmes said.

Firmes said the officer, who was accompanied by at least two others, followed procedure "to the letter."

"They are permitted to use deadly force against a vicious animal when there is an imminent threat," Firmes said. "There was no time. Given that the dog had already attacked two dogs it was reasonable for them to expect the dog would bite. Dogs that size can do a lot of damage."

The dog weighed an estimated 150 pounds, he said.

The shooting officer was not injured, nor were the others, he said.

Once animal control arrived, it was determined that the dog was micro-chipped; therefore its owner could be contacted, according to Sgt. Dave Baca, who was at the scene Friday morning where yellow police tape was stretched across the intersection at Alondra and Alicia.

The dog's body was lifted from the sidewalk and taken away in an animal control van.

The first dog that was attacked was rushed to a veterinary hospital, Firmes said. As of 10:45 a.m., the dog, a Welsh Corgi, had succumbed to its injures, he said.

Firmes added that animal control officers went to registered home address of the Akita, where they found another Akita nearby that had been reported loose. It was determined that both dogs belonged to the same Murrieta owner, and animal control took in the second dog, he said.

The officer-involved shooting will be thoroughly investigated, Firmes said.