Shooting of dog by off-duty Las Vegas police officer investigated

An off-duty Las Vegas police officer fatally shot a dog that appeared to be attacking another dog Tuesday afternoon in the far northwest valley.

The shooting occurred about 12:10 p.m. in the 6900 block of North Campbell Road, near West Deer Springs Way, Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Larry Hadfield said.

Esther Pearson, 67, said she was walking her daughter-in-law’s small Pekingese poodle, Cleo, on a leash when — unprovoked — two stray or runaway pit-bull-type dogs on the other side of the street ran toward her, then started attacking her family dog.

“I’ve never been so frightened in my life,” she told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “All I could see was the mutilation of my dog.”

Pearson was the only person on the sidewalk in the neighborhood at the time and screamed for help, but no one came. As the dogs continued to attack, an off-duty Metro officer, who has not been identified, happened upon the scene.

The officer stopped, got out of his car and ran to Pearson’s aid. Believing she was in danger, the officer shot one of the two loose dogs, killing it.

“He just came up, the next thing I heard was a shot,” Pearson said. “He was protecting me. I was very thankful to see that gun.”

She said she did not immediately realize the shooter was a police officer because he was off duty and not in uniform.

Hadfield said the second dog ran away, and police have not found it.

Pearson said she was sure Cleo was going to die during the attack, but shortly afterward, she was happy to find out that the dog had only minor bleeding and bruising and should recover fully.

She said she was grateful she was not injured and that she was not with her grandchildren at the time.

“Everybody’s upset that this happened,” Pearson said. “I walk constantly in this neighborhood with my grandchildren and the dog.”

Metro’s internal affairs team is investigating the shooting, Hadfield said. He said the identity of the officer who shot the dog likely will not be released.

“I think we’re lucky that a police officer was here to render assistance,” Hadfield said.

Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Follow @lauxkimber on Twitter. Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Follow @rachelacrosby on Twitter.