PALMDALE, Calif. (AP) — When a dog that had already bit one of them charged a group of deputies, two of them opened fire. Authorities say they did not see the teenage boy standing some 30 feet (10 meters) behind, who was struck down by a bullet that apparently bounced on the concrete and hit him in the chest.

The 17-year-old, who had helped to restrain the dog after the first bite, died at a hospital an hour later, turning what began as a mere early-morning noise complaint at a party in Palmdale into a freak tragedy.
The same Los Angeles County deputy that was bitten by the dog was also hit by a bullet fragment Thursday but survived. He was treated at a hospital and released.

The dog, which survived the shooting, was later euthanized.

The boy's mother, Roberta Alcantar, said his name was Armando Garcia-Muro, the eldest of four siblings about to start his senior year of high school. She said he loved dogs and planned to go into construction.

"He was a very loving person,"Alcantar told the Los Angeles Times.

Sheriff's Capt. Christopher Bergner called it an "extremely, extremely unfortunate incident," adding that it didn't appear the deputies saw the teen in the dark before they fired.

After the male pit bull first bit the deputy, Garcia-Muro restrained the dog behind the apartment complex that is also home to his mother, his aunt, and a neighbor who owns the dog. Then it broke loose and charged again.

http://www.kivitv.com/news/national/deputies-firing-on-charging-dog-hit-kill-teen-boy

Tragic story. Another pit bull involved. Just an ordinary dog, until they aren't.

This story just doesn't ring true, the dog has bit a Deputy, now the kid has caught and is holding the dog when he breaks away and goes after the Deputies again, the kid is a neighbor but not the owner?? Guess the dog doesn't like uniforms must remind him of the dog catcher.??? I remember when I was delivering milk in LA CA, would come up scratch the dog's ears go in put stuff in fridge come out and find mailman kicking at the same dog I would call him off and mailman would deliver the mail and take off. Is it the uniform or is it that too many people are just giving of a fear scent that causes the dogs to react. In all the time I delivered I was bit only once and I knew that dog would try and it also knew I would kill it if it tried but was kept in the house. One morning they forgot to take the dog in, it never made a sound just came up behind me bit and ran. I just think there is more playing out here than meet the eye. JMT you may see it different . Cheers NC

One thing that is playing out is that we non professionals know that bullets ricochet, travel through things, and carry way past 30 feet.

As for pit bulls, the owners have as much or more to do with the dog's personality than the breed. 40 years ago it was Alsatians, Dobermans, and Rottweilers who were the bad dogs. I have a greyhound/doberman/shepherd/? who is protective of my wife. What of cops had to come here?

Many breeds of dogs are naturally protective. You can't make your dog stand down if you need to?? It will just tear loose from you and attack anyone even though you are telling it NO and to back down? I would sure hope not. That's just one of the differences with a lot of pit bulls and the normal dog. Once their brain kicks into attack mode it's gonna take a bullet or 2 men with breaking sticks prying their jaws apart to get them off the victim. They are NOT a normal dog. I'd venture to say the police officers knew that, that's why the first reaction was to start firing.

Only thing anyone knows for sure is that officers again were in panic mode and started firing recklessly!

Phil

And you know this how?

Simply shooting a dog means they are in panic mode?

Seward police officer shot a black bear in town with a 12 gauge slug. It ricocheted off a rock after passing through the bear and popped a bystander in the chest. No penetration, just a serious bruise...

He was not panicing either.

Ever one should think before they shoot. Once they shoot the bullet has no mind to think. It can kill whatever it hits.

Local news covering the story states the boy was 40 ft away when caught the ricochet bullet. Also reported it was dark out and the Deputies never saw the boy walked from behind the home into the line of fire.

The Deputy that had been bit also caught a piece of ricocheting bullet.

Sounds like a happy ending. The more people that die in California the better, right?

Um.... depends on which ones.

😉

My dog does not attack, barks and stays close to wife. We have had several instances in this area alone where LE has shot dogs that were retreating just like they are taught, remove all threats. As for being bred for protection, the mutt I have comes from the breeds usually used for such. I worry because she weighs 95 pounds, looks mean with those big teeth, and does not like touched by strangers and does not seperate from the wife if there are unknown people around. There is a good chance I will not be home when the wife needs help because of her health. There are 4 or 5e neighbors who will help control and take care of her but look at this outcome here, neighbor was killed.

What, exactly, did a cop do to you (or not) that drives you to search the internet all day for Charlie Foxtrot's that can be twisted controversial?

Story is on a local channel news, Why are you so sensitive about it?

I'm a sensitive guy.

bastid, coffee out through the nose all over the keyboard! Who's gonna clean this mess up?

Pretty uninformative article. We'll see what really happened. Maybe that's the gist of it.

Ain't no dog worth a human life. Pay attention to what's behind you, especially over a damn dog.







It's some gay schitt to obsess over police shootings and post them on the internet. Chickenschitt, homo behavior. A banner 700LH waves with pride and with fervor.

So if it was a German shepherd in a snarling fit of rage on the attack, officers would not have fired?

Do LEOs have specifically different procedures for savage PBs vs other imminently life threatening
dangerous dogs?

Probably the gun's fault!.

The dog owner and city best get their checkbooks out.

Dog had already bit one, came back for more and got shot at, cant blame them, its a bad thing that the kid was in the line of fire but if he could not be seen or heard there is some liability removed. The dog should have been restrained,

That can be said for dogs of any breed. The difference is that members of the Pitbull breeds are the most capable of harm when they attack, due to inbred determination to continue an attack without quitting, not to mention superior bodily strength and energy.

Eliminate the breed, and the breeds that are next in line with regard to those characteristics will be the next target for elimination (This isn't speculation, as it's happened over and over in various places across the globe where first Pitbulls were banned, followed by a rapidly expanding list of other breeds, to include common guard breeds). Not a good trend to get started, unless you're happy with the government providing a list of permissible dog breeds, which will eventually run the gamut from Poodles to Golden Retrievers.

When I attended my CHL class several years ago, we were told by the instructor that- here in Texas- you would not usually be charged for any damage done by your bullet after it passed thru your attacker in a lawful shoot. Bullets that missed and then damaged another person, or property, were a different matter.

By that criteria, the Deputy would be liable since he missed the dog,

But, even here in Texas, I doubt the Deputy would suffer any consequences.

That's just the way it is.

most sensible post here

we really really need a sarcasm font or at least i hope so.

Agreed....appalled at such a posting if it is meant literally. Reads like the victim was a devoted student and a kid with some goals.
Tragedy could befall any of our kids, it's not a joking matter.

Exactly!

And you know which bullet (s) hit the kid? And you know it was not a bullet that exited the dog and ricocheted because?

Tragedy. For the boy, for the family, for the officers.

The dog already bit someone. That makes it a dangerous dog, by definition. The fault lies not with the officers, it lies with the dog owner. I hope he's not some doped-out POS with no assets, and that the boy's family gets to take everything from him that is dear. And then send his irresponsible arse to prison for a long time.

The 3rd Law:
Always Be Sure Of Your Target And What Is Behind It.

On the surface this does not seem to have been a life threatening situation.

Right, just keep believing that BS...

So what would happen to you if you shot at a dog in a populated area and hit someone?

Perhaps a little training in truncheon work would help. Just 'cause the cop's got a gun doesn't mean that has to be the first tool he reaches for.

Big time settlement........

Big time settlement........ yep........

The fact remains that none of this would have happened if it wasn't for the damned vicious dog.

I appear to be in the minority hear, but shooting a firearm at a dog when you have other options, such as a night stick, taser or pepper spray and you are in a residential area. Seems extreme, especially when you do not know what is in the background. Saying you cant see the kid in the dark should not resolve the officers of responsibility. He pulled the trigger and his shots killed a boy. Is a dog that may bite a life threatening situation? I am sure it can be, but I think the City is in trouble based on this story alone

Which "he" are you referring to?