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A Charlotte woman says a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer fatally shot one of her pitbulls and wounded another.
Janneth Sanchez, 27, said the shooting happening sometime after 9:35 p.m. Sunday, when she called police for help getting into her house, at 5029 Magnasco Lane.
CMPD spokesman Keith Trietley said he couldn’t comment on the case, other than to say the internal affairs department is investigating because “an officer discharged a firearm.” The department doesn’t comment on ongoing internal investigations and also wouldn’t comment if it turned into a legal matter, Trietley said.
Sanchez said she was returning home Sunday from being away for the weekend, was unable to get the door unlocked and unable to reach her husband, who was inside the house and with whom she’d had a recent argument.
An officer came to the home to help, and Sanchez tried again to open the door. This time, the door opened with no problems, Sanchez said, and her two pit bulls, Chino and Ivy, ran out of the house.
She said she was already bending down to pick up Chino when an officer yelled at her to restrain him and then fired his gun at Chino.
“By the time he said, ‘Grab your dogs,’ it was too late; he had already shot my dog,” Sanchez said. Ivy, the other pitbull, ran away. When Sanchez’ husband found her later, they discovered she had a laceration on her mouth. The vet told the Sanchez the wound was also caused by a bullet, she said.
Sanchez said neither of the dogs had been growling, barking or acting viciously. Sanchez said the event has left her shaken, especially because she is seven months’ pregnant and was standing right near the dog when he was shot.
“This is a lot for me,” Sanchez said. “My dog died in my arms.”
