Los Angeles police fatally shot a family’s pet dog, a two-year-old doodle named Jameson, who was wearing a New York Knicks jersey, after being called to a report of a screaming woman who was actually celebrating the basketball team’s championship win. The incident occurred shortly after the conclusion of Saturday’s NBA championship game five.
Video Goes Viral
Video of the aftermath, showing a woman lying with the lifeless dog near her front door, sobbing as about a dozen uniformed officers stand around, received millions of views on TikTok. A person on the recording shouts at the officers: “This is fucking pathetic when there’s drug dealers, people stabbing each other outside. It’s a fucking dog.” The woman wails: “The Knicks just won the championship. We were just so happy. We just celebrating the Knicks.”
GoFundMe Appeal
A GoFundMe appeal to pay for Jameson’s cremation quickly surpassed $125,000, more than ten times its initial target. Jeremiah Garcia, who launched the appeal, wrote: “On June 13th, 2026, 10 minutes after celebrating the Knicks championship win, our dog was fatally shot right outside our home. Jameson was 2 years old, and he was taken from us too soon. Anyone who’s met Jameson would tell you he is the sweetest boy in the world.”
LAPD Statement
In a statement, the LAPD said officers were directed to an apartment by a person who reported screaming. When the woman opened the door, they were confronted by a large, barking dog. The officers asked her to secure the dog, and she closed the door momentarily. “She reopened the door, and the dog exited the apartment. Once outside, the dog charged at one of the officers, resulting in an Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS).”
Demand for Accountability
At a press conference, the Los Angeles National Action Network advocacy group demanded the release of police body-cam footage of the shooting. Senior organizer Najee Ali said: “The tragic killing of Jameson was unnecessary and unwarranted. We demand immediate accountability, which can only happen through the prompt release of the body-worn camera footage and the names of the officers responsible. The public deserves transparency, and the family deserves answers.”
