Chaos erupted on the streets of Boston this morning when Boston Police confronted a dog described as "vicious" near the symbol-laden finishing line of the Boston Marathon. As reported by the Boston Globe, an officer discharged their firearm in response to the threat posed by the animal, though it appears that neither the dog nor any bystanders were struck by the bullet.
According to Officer Mark Marron, a department spokesman, police deployed multiple Taser rounds in an attempt to subdue the dog after it fled the initial scene. The canine in question, reportedly a pit bull, was ultimately located at Downtown Crossing. "The officer did fire at a vicious dog," Marron was quoted by the Boston Globe, "There were multiple taser deployments." An intense pursuit ensued as the unleashed dog darted through the city streets, including Boylston and Newbury, and onto the Common.
In a dramatic scene captured by an NBC10 Boston crew, armed officers converged on the scene right after a loud bang echoed through the area, as the sound of a dog barking can be discerned. The NBC10 Boston footage also recorded officers instructing the crowd to "stay back" in the busy morning hours, which were further energized by crews working on the marathon's finish line art installation.
The dog was eventually secured in the back of a police cruiser pending the arrival of animal control, as per an officer's account at the scene. Fortunately, no injuries to bystanders or police were reported during the tense altercation. As things stand, the Boston Police’s handling of the incident remains under active investigation. Details on the condition of the dog were not immediately available, with the situation continuing to develop.
