A man whose family dog was shot and killed by police officers said he heard at least two loud bangs when he was on the phone with his mother when the shooting took place.
Jeremiah Garcia recalls being on a FaceTime call with his mother on Saturday when police officers responded to a report of a woman screaming at their Canoga Park apartment complex. The screaming didn’t come from any danger but instead, excitement over the New York Knicks’ victory in the 2026 NBA Finals.
However, officers with the Los Angeles Police Department arrived at the complex and spoke to Garcia’s mother. The family’s 2-year-old Golden Saint Bernard Doodle, Jameson, was barking at the officers, who ordered Garcia’s mother to secure her dog. When Garcia’s mother re-opened the door, the dog exited the apartment unit and police allege he charged at an officer, prompting them to open fire.
Video captured Garcia’s mother heartbreakingly grieving the family pet.
“I spring up the stairs and I see yellow tape, caution tape on the stairwell. And I see my dog,” Garcia said with tears in his eyes.
“Then, I see my mom in my home just screaming at the top of her lungs,” Garcia said. “I tried to console her, I tried to. It was just so horrible.”
Garcia was at his girlfriend’s house watching the game when he was on FaceTime with his mother and heard the shooting.
“At one point, I’m guessing that’s when the cops told her to move away from the body, that’s when she finally screams my name,” Garcia said. “’Jeremiah, Jeremiah – Jameson is dead.’ I just broke down. I didn’t know what to do.”
A memorial for Jameson is now growing in the hallway of the apartment complex. Neighbors have left flowers and cards as the family processes their grief.
“He was the best dog you would ever, ever see. Ever meet,” Garcia said. “Everyone loved him, all my neighbors.”
According to LAPD, Los Angeles Department of Animal Services responded to the scene and took custody of Jameson’s body. It has not been said if or when the family would get it back.
Police said the investigation remains underway.