Dog trainer arrested after man shot, killed during marketing shoot for business

ROCHESTER, Wash. — One man is dead after he was shot by a dog handler using a gun during a photo and video shoot for a dog training business in Thurston County, according to court documents. 

KING 5 is not naming the handler who fired the gun as he has not been charged. 

Thurston County Sheriff’s deputies responded Tuesday to the area of Forstrom Road Southwest and 183rd Avenue Southwest in Thurston County for a report of a person shot. 

First responders pronounced the victim, who is in his early 20s, dead at the scene. 

According to the sheriff’s office, a group of people had been filming working dog training exercises, which included gunfire, to show how well-trained dogs don’t react for business marketing purposes.

One of the dog handlers fired a rifle with live ammunition approximately 10 times at a target during the shoot while the victim was standing 30 feet away from the target. The handler was holding a leashed dog in one hand and the rifle in the other. 

At one point, the dog reacted and “jerked” the handler’s body as he was firing. 

“The next thing everyone knew, they heard a groan from [the victim], and he collapsed,” documents state. Witnesses reported the victim was bleeding from the head and was later found to have been struck in the face, documents state. 

When police were on scene, the handler told detectives they had done this exercise three times with different dogs and the Tuesday exercise was with a new dog and a new firearm, being the rifle. 

Witnesses also reported the handler had used guns during video shoots at least three times before. 

Court documents state the handler “demonstrated reckless behavior” when ignoring several safety concerns raised by witnesses and employees. 

The handler who fired the weapon was arrested for investigation of first-degree manslaughter. He is held on $250,000 bail. 

His arraignment is set for June 17.