A Columbus police officer sustained injuries after allegedly being struck by gunfire from a colleague. This incident occurred on July 14th, during a domestic incident response on the northeast side of the Ohio city. The officer was transported to the hospital. However, the dog involved in the encounter was ultimately euthanized due to the severity of its injuries.
10 WBNS and The Columbus Dispatch have written that police were responding to a call regarding a domestic dispute. According to Sgt. James Fuqua, officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of Divot Place, located off of Wedge Road and south of Agler Road in the Ambience Villas Apartment Homes, just after 6:00 PM. Upon their arrival at the scene, the officers reportedly encountered a black Rottweiler.
Fuqua told the outlets, “An interaction occurred between one of the officers and the dog.” However, there is little detail, and Fuqua clarified that the specific nature of this interaction remains under investigation. At some point, the officer attempted to shoot the dog, but the gunfire accidentally struck another officer. Sgt. Fuqua declined to specify where the wounded officer was hit, but he confirmed that the injuries were not life-threatening.
Both the officer and the dog were rushed to emergency care
Following the shooting, medics reportedly transported the officer to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center. Fuqua stated that the officer is expected to recover from the incident.
The dog was also struck during the encounter. Media reports from the scene initially suggested the dog appeared to be walking freely and did not look injured. Then, on July 15, the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center reported that the dog had been taken to an after-hours emergency veterinary hospital for an evaluation. The Columbus Dispatch reported that due to the extent of its injuries, the dog was humanely euthanized.
The owner of the dog, Miracle Kendrick, provided a different perspective on the animal. Kendrick told 10TV that her dog, Rockc, was “very sweet and lovable.” She also disputed any suggestion that the animal was being aggressive.
Expressing her grief, she stated, “It’s heartbreaking,” and added, “I love her. The community loves her.” Recently, an emergency response potentially led to the death of a family dog. In June, a Knicks celebration turned tragic when police responded to reports of a screaming woman and allegedly shot the family dog.
Sgt. Fuqua informed the media that the original matter was resolved without any arrests. He stated that no one involved in the domestic situation is expected to face charges. Upon investigation the police determined the event was simply an argument.
The circumstances leading to the officer firing their weapon, however, remain unclear. One shooting where circumstances were able to be established was the shooting of an officer in Pasadena. Video evidence established that the officer was accidentally shot in the shoulder in a ‘horseplay’ incident.
Sgt. Fuqua indicated that investigators have not yet determined what specifically prompted the officer to discharge their firearm. Neither have they confirmed if the dog was acting aggressively or how many total shots were fired during the incident. Additionally, the department has not disclosed how many years the two officers involved have been with the Division of Police.
The Columbus Dispatch noted that, typically, Columbus requires that any officer-involved shooting be referred to the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation for a formal review. However, the bureau confirmed on July 15 that it will not be investigating this specific incident.
Per 10WBNS, Sgt. Fuqua stated that the shooting will still be investigated under the division’s standard protocol for any officer who discharges a firearm, regardless of whether the shooting is deemed intentional or accidental.
Published: Jul 16, 2026 10:35 am