RismadarVoice Reporters
June 16, 2026
A dog wearing a New York Knicks jersey was fatally shot by Los Angeles police officers while they responded to a report of a screaming woman in the Canoga Park area of Los Angeles, authorities said.
The incident, which occurred shortly after the Knicks secured the NBA Finals victory on Saturday, has sparked widespread attention after video of the aftermath circulated online, drawing millions of views on TikTok.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), officers were dispatched to a radio call reporting a “screaming woman” in the San Fernando Valley neighbourhood. The call was later clarified to have been linked to celebrations following the Knicks’ championship win, not an emergency situation.
Police said that when officers arrived and were directed to an apartment, a resident briefly opened the door before shutting it again. When the door was reopened, a large dog was outside the unit and began barking at officers.
The LAPD stated that officers instructed the resident to secure the animal, but the dog exited the apartment and moved toward an officer, prompting what they described as an officer-involved shooting.
Animal services officials later recovered the dog’s body from the scene. The owner was present and cooperating with investigators, police said. The dog was identified as Jameson.
Footage widely shared online shows a woman lying over the dog’s body, distraught and insisting that the situation stemmed from a celebration of the Knicks’ victory. In the video, she can be heard denying wrongdoing and questioning the police response, while officers stand nearby.
Another voice off-camera can be heard criticising the police presence, arguing that more serious crimes should be prioritised.
The video has since amassed millions of views across social media platforms, fuelling public debate over police use of force in encounters involving pets.
The LAPD has not released further details about the circumstances leading to the shooting beyond its initial statement, and the incident remains under investigation.
