SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Police shot and killed a dog while responding to reports of trespassers at a Salt Lake City store after the animal reportedly became aggressive, lunging and biting one officer.
The incident occurred around 3:15 a.m. on March 23, 2025, when dispatch received a call from an employee of the 7-Eleven at 1692 W. North Temple St., reporting trespassers in the area.
Upon arriving, two officers made contact with a large group of people in a parking lot and called for additional units.
When one officer approached the group, a dog began barking and jumping, biting him. While the dog was on a leash, nobody was holding onto it. The officer then drew his firearm and could be heard yelling “Take it out of here or it’s dead” in body camera footage provided by SLCPD. The owner was then able to calm the dog, and officers resumed the investigation.
Police documents noted that the owner handed her pet over to another person who began walking the dog through the parking lot. As another officer attempted to detain the dog for animal services, the animal started to react, jumping and barking loudly.
The dog then broke free from its handler and ran at the officer who then warned the handler that he would shoot. According to police, that officer was unable to create enough distance between him and the animal due to its hostility. The officer who was previously bitten began yelling for that officer to move before he fired at least four rounds at the dog.
The owner then ran up to her pet who was lying on the cement. As she was approaching, officers yelled for her to back up and pushed her onto the ground, then rolled her over onto her stomach and detained her for “safety reasons and the preservation of evidence.”
The dog was turned over to Salt Lake County Animal Services in critical condition and was later euthanized. Officers gave the owner a private moment with her pet and later drove her back to her apartment.
The injured officer received medical care for his non-life-threatening injuries at a nearby hospital. No arrests or citations were issued in this case, but all trespassers were given a verbal warning.
The Salt Lake City Police Department has released body-worn camera footage and video from the convenience store where the incident occurred. The footage has intentionally not been added to this article due to graphic content and obscenities.
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