I don't know if this topic is appropriate for THR, but if it isn't, then I apologize. I'm also aware that the news is also a little old, but a search shows that it has never been covered before.
Anyways, I've seen a couple of discussions on whether it's legal to defend pets with deadly force (as well as numerous topics on police shooting dogs). Well, this is probably the first relevant case.
TL;DR: Police officer goes to a man's house on a disturbance call. Officer sees dogs attacking him. Police chief tells the officer to "shoot the dogs." Man shoots officer dead. Man claims he was in fear for his life but gets convicted.
This seems to be the first case of a dog owner shooting a cop to defend their pets. In fact, it may even the first case of a non-LEO shooting another person in such a scenario. (There have been cases where people have been shot dead after harming a police dog, but it would be comparing apples to oranges as K-9's aren't "pets." Nevertheless, I believe the officers in those cases were cleared.)
The Hitcho case is currently being appealed, but whatever the outcome is, I think it sets an important precedent when it comes to defending pets with lethal force.
Does anyone know of any other cases where a person shot another person while defending their pets, and what the outcomes were? I tried several Google searches, but the only other cases that came up involved the shooting of other dogs (as opposed to a BG).
Anyways, I've seen a couple of discussions on whether it's legal to defend pets with deadly force (as well as numerous topics on police shooting dogs). Well, this is probably the first relevant case.
TL;DR: Police officer goes to a man's house on a disturbance call. Officer sees dogs attacking him. Police chief tells the officer to "shoot the dogs." Man shoots officer dead. Man claims he was in fear for his life but gets convicted.
This seems to be the first case of a dog owner shooting a cop to defend their pets. In fact, it may even the first case of a non-LEO shooting another person in such a scenario. (There have been cases where people have been shot dead after harming a police dog, but it would be comparing apples to oranges as K-9's aren't "pets." Nevertheless, I believe the officers in those cases were cleared.)
The Hitcho case is currently being appealed, but whatever the outcome is, I think it sets an important precedent when it comes to defending pets with lethal force.
Does anyone know of any other cases where a person shot another person while defending their pets, and what the outcomes were? I tried several Google searches, but the only other cases that came up involved the shooting of other dogs (as opposed to a BG).
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