Police say man shot a dog while kids play in neighborhood

Surprise, Ariz., police are investigating after a man shot and killed a dog in a neighborhood park Thursday night. It happened in a community located near Bell Road and the Loop 303.

Police said the shooter, 56-year-old Matthew Tardy, was defending his dog, which was being attacked by an unleashed dog. However, KPTV talked to the owner of the deceased dog, and she said Tardy misunderstood, overreacted and fired a gun with kids playing nearby.

Bloody steps on the sidewalk were the only indication of what happened in that public park. Shaunna Patterson witnessed it all.

"At that point, you don't even process what's happening," Patterson said. "Where are all the kids at? Has anybody else been hit? Why is he on the ground?"

A normal, after-dinner walk to the park turned tragic for Patterson and her 6-year-old son, who had their 9-year-old pitbull mix, Maxx, in tow.

"One of the kids dropped the leash, and the dog went running towards the park, and the kids went after him, giggling," Patterson said.

"That guy like freaked out and took it the wrong way," said 12-year-old Fabian Lopez, who was in the park playing basketball at the time. "The dog was really trying to play, 'cause it's like, a Lab."

By the time Patterson got near the commotion, she could see that the man was pinning her dog's head to the ground with his knee.

"The man then pulled a gun, held it to Maxx's head and shot him in the head," she said. "The kids were probably 6 feet away."

Fabian, who was in the park at the time, watched it happen.

"We were more shocked than scared, 'cause we're like, who pulls out a gun on a dog?" Fabian said.

Patterson said the person who that did the shooting actually apologized to her.

"The gentleman actually did say at one point that he has been attacked three times in his life, and I think he reacted immediately," Patterson said. "Maxx is a pitbull mix, and he does look scary."

Patterson said Tardy's dog, an Akita, actually bit her 6-year-old son on the leg during the commotion. Surprise police said the shooting is under investigation and that no criminal charges have yet been filed.