WATCH: Hopkinton’s Peter LaGoy talks about stepping out for daily runs
Hopkinton resident Peter LaGoy, who lives steps away from the Boston Marathon starting line, is asked what gets him out the door for daily runs.
A Boston police officer shot at a “vicious dog” that tried to attack them near the Boston Marathon finish line before the animal was later captured with the help of a stun gun, authorities say.
The incident happened around 9:20 a.m. Thursday as organizers and volunteers were working along the race course ahead of Monday’s marathon, Boston police said in a news release.
Officers responded to the area after getting a call about the dog at Boston Public Library, police said. When they arrived the dog tried to attack an officer, who fired his gun on the dog. The bullet missed and the dog fled.
Police eventually found the dog about a mile away in the Boston Common and Downtown Crossing area, where officers subdued the animal with a Taser, police said, adding that no one was injured.
While only one firearm discharged, multiple taser “deployments were made at separate locations” during the effort to capture the dog, police said.
It’s unclear where the dog is now and what its fate is.
Witness: Dog looked ‘out of control’
A witness told WCVB-TV that it appeared a woman was trying to control a dog attempting to jump on a man.
“There was a dog and a woman trying to control the dog, a police officer trying to contain the situation, and a homeless guy in a blanket on the street in front of the library,” the witness told the local media outlet. “He was yelling at the dog, and the dog looked like he was out of control there. (The dog) was trying to jump on the man.”
Witnesses told CBS News that confusion and fear followed the sound of the gunshot near the race finish line.
“It’s unfortunate that someone had to discharge a gun there, but I’m glad everybody was OK,” Justin Kuo said.
No arrests were made and the incident “remains an active investigation by the Boston Police,” the news release said.
Police did not reveal additional details on the dog, including breed, age and if it was a pet, and did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for more information.
When is the Boston Marathon?
The 129th Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place on Monday, April 21, coinciding with Patriots’ Day, a Massachusetts state holiday that commemorates the start of the American Revolution.
The historic annual race captures the city’s culture and traditions, making it a landmark event for the city.
The race begins in waves at the starting point in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and takes runners through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, and Brookline. The route covers a total distance of 26.2 miles, before culminating at the iconic finish line on Boylston Street in Boston.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
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