PHILADELPHIA, PA – A Philadelphia police officer shot and killed a pit bull on a Tuesday earlier this month, as it attacked another dog. The incident occurred in the city’s 39th District and was promptly responded to by local officers after a report of a dog attack at 12:06 PM.
Upon their arrival, the officers encountered a large pit bull aggressively attacking a smaller dog. Officer Brian Keenan, a seven-year veteran of the force, used his firearm to intervene, resulting in the pit bull’s death. Unfortunately, the smaller dog also succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.
While there were no injuries reported among the responding officers, a 66-year-old man, the owner of one of the dogs, was inadvertently injured by a bullet fragment that struck his left forearm. He declined medical treatment at the scene.
Both dogs were subsequently transported to the Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Agency (PACCA). The incident, captured on Officer Keenan’s body-worn camera, is under investigation.
Officer Keenan has been assigned to administrative duty pending further review by Internal Affairs and the Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations unit.
