HONOLULU (AP) — A private security firm says its officer was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed a family’s pet dog at Honolulu International Airport.
Securitas says the dog was barking aggressively and was shot March 28 in an unauthorized parking area as it lunged toward the unidentified officer.
The company says the officer was injured after he fell backward into a tree while trying to get out of the pit bull’s way and is now on medical leave.
The account differs from that of the pet’s owner, who says the chain that tied her dog to a tree broke but that the dog wasn’t acting aggressively.
Hawaii Sen. Will Espero says the security officer is being investigated for reckless endangering and was previously fired as a civilian police officer for the Army for pulling his gun too often.