[Shaun]

As posted by Karl in the Bay...

Hawthorne police are receiving threats after a video goes viral showing an officer killing the 80-pound Rottweiler when it jumped out of a car and lunged at police while its owner was handcuffed.

Leon Rosby arrived at 137th Street and Jefferson Avenue in Hawthorne on Sunday evening to videotape a police standoff. He brought along his 2-year-old Rottweiler, Max.

He put the dog on a leash and began filming. Hawthorne police deemed Rosby's actions interference and placed him under arrest. By this point, Max was in the backseat of Rosby's car, but the arrest upset him. He began barking, jumped out of the car and lunged at officers.

One of the officers drew a gun and fired four times. Dozens of residents watched the shooting, with some shrieking and moaning. Handcuffed, Rosby looked away in horror.

The incident Sunday was caught on tape and went viral on the Internet this week, sparking outrage and even drawing threats directed at the Hawthorne Police Department.

Some community leaders are calling for an investigation into the officers' actions, and Rosby said he still can't believe what happened.

"I've never seen someone that close to me get killed like that," Rosby, 52, said in an interview.

Rosby, an ordained minister now working as a licensed contractor, said he was filming the crime scene to protect the civil rights of those under investigation by police. When officers questioned him, he said, he asserted his right to record.

Hawthorne police Lt. Scott Swain said in a statement that Rosby was walking too close to law enforcement officers with Max, who weighed 80 pounds. The music coming from his car added to the distraction, authorities said, and made a "dangerous situation" at the crime scene.

In an interview, Swain would not pass judgment on the shooting.

"I'm not saying it's justified, but even when it's justified, there are some learning points," he said. "Could we have done anything different? We'll look at all those facts."

In March, Rosby filed a lawsuit against the city of Hawthorne and several officers in the Police Department, alleging that he was assaulted and brutalized in a July 2012 incident. Rosby said he has also filed numerous complaints against individual officers.

One of the officers named in the lawsuit was at the crime scene Sunday night, according to police, but was not involved in Rosby's arrest or the shooting of his dog.

Rosby was released from custody Monday morning and, according to his attorney, no charges have been filed against him.

The Police Department has launched an internal inquiry that is standard whenever an officer discharges a firearm. The department will also forward evidence to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office for a separate investigation.

Rosby's arrest and the shooting of his dog have gained global interest online and generated outrage on social media.

The original video of the shooting has received more than 1 million views. Comments critical of Hawthorne's police officers, including some direct threats, are also flooding the department's Facebook page, phone lines and email accounts.

The department is investigating all "credible" threats and strengthening security, Swain said, although no details were provided.

Video in the spoiler, it may upset some people though.

Spoiler:

Youtube video

Is filming the police illegal now? I don't understand how it can be construed as obstructing the crime scene when he was the opposite side of the street. Just another sad and sickening example of police brutality.

I can understand the frustration with people filming everything, and I'm sure Charlie Brooker will have a field day with his whole "**** everything modern" spiel, but arresting people for it is way OTT.

[lostalex]

My best friend is VERY afraid of dogs. She's even afraid of tiny dogs like pugs. Maybe the cop had a phobia like my best friend. Some people really are afraid for their lives around dogs.

[Lee.]

If a Rottweiler lunged at me and I had a gun in my hand, I'd shoot it.. No question about it

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Lee.

If a Rottweiler lunged at me and I had a gun in my hand, I'd shoot it.. No question about it

OK but what about a trained police officer. Should the trained police officer disregard his training and panic like this idiot. He had a gun the dog had nowt, not a fair fight in my books.

[lostalex]

That guy was harassing the police clearly, unfortunately the dog had to pay for his idiot owners behavior.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

OK but what about a trained police officer. Shouldn't the trained police officer disregard his training and panic like this idiot. He had a gun the dog had nowt, not a fair fight in my books.

A Rottweiler is just as much a lethal weapon as a gun. especially if the dog is trained to fight, which is highly likely in neighborhoods and communities like this.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

OK but what about a trained police officer. Should the trained police officer disregard his training and panic like this idiot. He had a gun the dog had nowt, not a fair fight in my books.

Are police trained to fight devil dogs with their bare hands?

[GypsyGoth]

Pretty shocking.

Originally Posted by lostalex

That guy was harassing the police clearly, unfortunately the dog had to pay for his idiot owners behavior.

I agree.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by lostalex

A Rottweiler is just as much a lethal weapon as a gun. especially if the dog is trained to fight, which is highly likely in neighborhoods and communities like this.

Already with the sweeping assumptions - 'neighborhoods and communities like this'. What are you trying to imply with a statement like that? Note how the police officer still has the gun on the dog even when its on the floor clearly dying with blood spurting over the pavement. Is that the kind of policing you want in your neibguhood? In countries like Jamaica this kind of tings happens all the time. My dad was telling me the other day about how a police officer shot and killed a woman who gave him a bit of stick in the street. Just to clarify, he lost his temper and shot and killed her for verbally abusing him. Is that what you want cuz thats what the police want?

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

A Rottweiler is just as much a lethal weapon as a gun. especially if the dog is trained to fight, which is highly likely in neighborhoods and communities like this.

I agree. I doubt the dog was looking for cuddles when he went for the policeman

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

Already with the sweeping assumptions - 'neighborhoods and communities like this'. What are you trying to imply with a statement like that? Note how the police officer still has the gun on the dog even when its on the floor clearly dying with blood spurting over the pavement. Is that the kind of policing you want in your neibguhood? In countries like Jamaica this kind of tings happens all the time. My dad was telling me the other day about how a police officer shot and killed a woman who gave him a bit of stick in the street. Just o clarify, he lost his temper and shot and killed her for verbally abusing him. IS that what you want cuz thats what the police want?

ummm, what?

The cops killing a dog that was trying to attack them is not the same as killing a woman for mouthing off. I really don't see how you can draw a comparison.

[Drew.]

someone posted the video on twitter yesterday, there was definitely no need to shoot the dog.. taser or pepper spray would have been enough, no way did the dog need shooting

[Nedusa]

I think the Officer had two choices either Shoot the Dog or wait until the Dog had ripped most of the flesh of his leg/arm and then shoot the Dog.

I think it's a No brainer....!!!!

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by lostalex

ummm, what?

The cops killing a dog that was trying to attack them is not the same as killing a woman for mouthing off. I really don't see how you can draw a comparison.

Where is the dog trying to attack him? My daughters dog jumps up on me like that all the time.


My point is, if the police can shoot a dog when its not clear its attacking them, and I counted three policeman in that clip. Surely three trained police can handle one dog without having to shoot to kill.

[Shaun]

How is filming something from a few yards away harrassment? Why weren't the filmers of the YouTube video arrested?

[Drew.]

Originally Posted by GiRTh

Where is the dog trying to attack him? My daughters dog jumps up on me like that all the time.


My point is, if the police can shoot a dog when its not clear its attacking them, and I counted three policeman in that clip. Surely three trained police can handle one dog without having to shoot to kill.

agreed

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Shaun

How is filming something from a few yards away harrassment? Why weren't the filmers of the YouTube video arrested?

I saw him sticking his middle finger up and shouting obscenities at them. they seemed to ignore him at first, then he continued on and on and on... he was clearly distracting them from what they were there to do. So i guess that is "obstruction".

[Ramsay]

Interview with the owner

Youtube video

Dog's name is the same name as my own dog

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Karl

Interview with the owner

Youtube video

Dog's name is the same name as my own dog

I notice there are no actual tears. this guy is so full of it. Him acting like an idiot is what got his dog shot.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Lee.

If a Rottweiler lunged at me and I had a gun in my hand, I'd shoot it.. No question about it

Originally Posted by lostalex

That guy was harassing the police clearly, unfortunately the dog had to pay for his idiot owners behavior.

Originally Posted by lostalex

A Rottweiler is just as much a lethal weapon as a gun. especially if the dog is trained to fight, which is highly likely in neighborhoods and communities like this.

I agree with these ^

[arista]

When he put the dog in his Car
the window was open to much

The Dog did not know whay was going on
The owner should have made it Sit still.

In the Video you can see the dog bite the cop
Then he shoots it.
Thats fair, sadly

The owner of the Dog messed up.


Tragic

[Roy Mars III]

More the owner's fault than the officers. They probably should have tried to do something else besides shoot the dog, but in the spur of the moment they reacted.

[LikeABoatOnWater]

Owners fault. The poor dog was put in that position by its retarded owner.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Lee.

Are police trained to fight devil dogs with their bare hands?

I would hope Police are trained to deal with much more than one dog without shooting to kill. In my world shoot to kill is the final straw but it seems I'm alone on that one.

[Ryan57]

Terrible to see.

Agree with Shaun in regards to the harassment and the other guy filming.

No need to shoot at all. The dog wasn't even a threat until the policeman tried to grab its lead. Total bastard that did it.