A devastated family in North Carolina is seeking answers after their beloved Labrador retriever was shot and killed by police in what appears to be a tragic case of mistaken identity.
The incident occurred in High Point when a woman called the police, reporting that she and her children were trapped in their house due to an aggressive German shepherd in their yard.
According to authorities, a responding officer attempted to apprehend the dog, but it managed to escape.
A neighbor informed the officer that the dog's owners lived further down the street, leading the officer to another house on the same block.
However, as the officer walked down the driveway in search of the German shepherd, a different dog, described as a "black dog," emerged from behind the home and charged at the officer in an aggressive manner.
In response, the officer, who remains unidentified, retreated and fired four shots at the dog when it was approximately five to seven feet away.
Tragically, the dog turned out to be a 65-pound black Labrador retriever named Hank, the family pet of the Barnes family.
Adam Barnes, the distraught homeowner, expressed his disbelief and grief over the incident, stating, "They shot my black Lab for no reason.
First off, I don't have a German shepherd. He was the best dog. I know my dog, and I know that he wouldn't hurt a fly. I know he wouldn't."
Adam's parents, Lee and Marykay Barnes, contradicted the official account provided by the police. They claimed to have been present in the driveway at the time of the shooting and insisted that the officer shot the wrong dog.
Lee Barnes described the heartbreaking moment, saying, "That dog was happy one second and dead the next. Pow pow, pow pow! Just like that."
Marykay Barnes added, "He was in his own yard, so he had no reason to shoot him."
The loss of Hank has left the family devastated. Adam Barnes recounted the heart-wrenching scene when he discovered that his beloved pet had been killed. "I dropped to my knees, and I just didn't know what to do.
I was broken at that point. I couldn't bring him back," he said.
The High Point Police Department has initiated an internal investigation into the shooting. However, the officer involved has not been placed on administrative leave.
The department has yet to respond to requests for comment on the incident.
The Barnes family is now demanding answers and justice for Hank's untimely death. They hope that the investigation will shed light on the circumstances surrounding the shooting and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Login