The dog was trying to protect its owner, a homeless man who was having a seizure. (Gothamist.com video still)
Newly-released video shows a Monday East Village shooting in which a cop fired on a pit bull trying to protect its owner.
The video, posted on Gothamist.com, shows the pit bull, named Star, standing on the sidewalk, barking.
Star’s owner, a homeless man, is lying nearby, having a seizure.
A woman steps too close.
“Miss, get out of the way,” officers tell her, but she doesn’t move quickly enough, and the dog lunges at her leg.
The video then shows Star rushing at one of the cops, who shoots the dog from close range. The dog struggles to stand as two officers watch on, their weapons drawn.
“Why are you shooting him?” onlookers scream. “Why did you shoot the dog?”
The dog, shot in the head, remains in critical condition at Animal Care and Control.
Star’s owner was hospitalized.