A Philadelphia police officer's split-second decision to fatally shoot a cane corso that was part of a dog pack attacking a man has sparked an investigation. The harrowing incident took place in the Mantua section of the city on Wednesday morning, where a 53-year-old man was mauled by four dogs, including the cane corso and three pit bulls, as per reports from The Inquirer.
The patrol officer, responding to a civilian's alert about loose dogs, attempted to disperse the animals with his siren, but to no avail. Upon failure, the officer exited his vehicle and discharged his weapon, fatally injuring the cane corso and halting the attack. The victim was promptly transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center with multiple bite wounds but remained in stable condition. Meanwhile, the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, according to FOX 29 News.
Eyewitness footage of the gruesome struggle has become a key piece of the ongoing investigation, as noted by 6ABC Action News. The video showed the man trying to fend off the dogs, reportedly to protect his own pet, as neighbors tried and failed to intervene due to the aggression of the dogs. Sharon Owens, a resident whose home fronted the scene, described hearing the sound of gunshots as "very scary," noting its proximity as "too close for comfort."
In the aftermath, the question of finding the dogs' owner and understanding the animals' history has become paramount. "It's important to know where are they coming from, are they often loose? Are they never loose? Is this a rare occasion?" remarked Sarah Barnett, the executive director of ACCT Philly, in an interview with 6ABC. Expressing empathy for all involved, she emphasized, "I feel terrible for the individual who is injured. I feel terrible for the police officer who went through having to shoot a dog ... and I feel bad for the dogs too." Barnett also highlighted the swift nature of the incident as the probable reason ACCT Philly had not been called to the scene.
Neighborhood witnesses have backed the officer's decision under dire circumstances. James Jackson told 6ABC, "They had to do what they had to do ... shoot him to get him off, he could've got killed himself." The investigation continues, especially as police confirmed that the officer's body camera was not activated at the time of the attack. Further developments are expected as the authorities work through the details of this case.
