A disturbing incident unfolded in North Texas when a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a family dog while responding to a non-violent domestic disturbance. The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the incident, which took place in March, is currently under investigation. The event was captured on the deputy’s body camera, raising questions about the use of force in such situations.
Deputy shoots and kills family dog during non-violent domestic call
On March 26, at approximately 6:45 a.m., Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic call on Joyce Road. Body camera footage shows a deputy entering the property and encountering the family’s German Shepherd mix within seconds of walking through the front gate. The dog, which jumped from a porch towards him, was subsequently shot by the deputy.
The family’s pet, a 5-year-old named Loki, was the dog killed in the incident. “That was my best friend, and we buried him over there,” a grieving Heather Thomas told FOX 4. She insists that Loki posed no threat to the deputy. She also suggested that the dog had merely jumped off the porch to relieve himself.
The sheriff’s office issued a statement, indicating that an exhaustive investigation is underway to scrutinize the circumstances leading up to the shooting and to determine any necessary actions. “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident,” the statement read.
Alex Del Carmen, associate dean of criminology at Tarleton State University voiced significant concern over the deputy’s handling of the situation after reviewing the footage. He suggests that the officer might have violated several policies. Meanwhile, Thomas disputes the perception of her dog as a threat, suggesting Loki was merely exiting the house. She also pointed out the danger the deputy’s actions posed. “He shot toward my house when there was other people in there and me two feet away. He could’ve killed me,” she said.
