Family dog killed by police officer following Knicks celebration

A woman’s evening of celebrations turned into a tragedy when her beloved dog was fatally shot by the Los Angeles Police Department.

On Saturday (13 June), the New York Knicks won the National Basketball Association championship for the first time in over 50 years, sending fans into a frenzy and prompting excited festivities across the city.

However, what should have been a happy day quickly became a nightmare for California woman Marie Marsielle, who was at home with her dog, Jameson, who was wearing a Knicks T-shirt.

As reported by USA Today, officers from LAPD’s Topanga Patrol Division responded to a radio call of a ‘screaming woman’ in a Canoga Park apartment at roughly 8.55pm.

When police arrived at the apartment complex, they were directed to the flat where the sound was coming from.

Jameson was killed by LAPD officers who responded to reports of a 'woman screaming' (ABC 7)

LA Times reports that the statement read: “The officers contacted the resident in the apartment unit; while speaking with the resident, a large dog was by her side barking at the officers.

“The officers asked her to secure the dog, and the resident closed her door momentarily. She re-opened the door, and the dog exited the apartment.”

The LAPD claimed that the officers at the scene shot the two-year-old dog when it charged at one of them.

A heartbreaking video has since circulated on social media, showing Marsielle crying in the hallway of her apartment, hugging her dog.

She screamed down the phone to her son: "Oh God, Jeremiah! Jeremiah!"

Marie Marsielle's dog was shot by police (Fox 11 Los Angeles)

In an interview with FOX11 following the shooting, Marsielle detailed what happened, explaining that when officers arrived, she confirmed she was alone.

She told the outlet: "I’m like, ‘Oh no, it’s just me.’ And then they saw Jameson, and the one officer said, ‘Put the dog away.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, no problem.’"

She explained how she tried to comply, but Jameson quickly slipped outside and walked toward one of the officers.

"The next thing I know, Jameson is lying on the ground," she recalled, “But Jameson wasn’t baring his teeth, he wasn’t growling, he wasn’t aggressive, he wasn’t barking. He was just moving toward the officer."

Marsielle got emotional as she added: “He’s my baby. It doesn’t make any sense to me. I can’t make sense of anything."

Tyla has contacted LAPD for comment.