Knicks win celebration turns tragic for California family after LAPD officers show up and shoot their dog

A joyous occasion turned into tragedy on Saturday after a family celebrating the New York Knicks’ NBA championship win witnessed their beloved dog be fatally shot by LAPD officers. The officers were responding to a call about a screaming woman inside the condo building.

According to the police department, the dog rushed at officers who were responding to a neighbor who had asked police to check on a screaming woman in the building on Jordan Avenue. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Saturday with footage shared on social media which has prompted a strong response against the officers.

One video posted to TikTok by “Alpha Wolf,” presumably by a resident of the building, shows a woman weeping over the body of a dog as a large number of police officers stand by and watch in silence. Other residents can be heard shouting at the LAPD and criticizing them for failing to do their jobs properly.

In the clip the grieving woman can be heard repeatedly yelling “no,” and “I can’t,” before explaining through tears, “The Knicks just won the championship, we were so happy.” According to ABC 7 Eyewitness, the dog in question was a 2-year-old golden retriever, Saint Bernard and poodle mix called Jameson. A picture taken before the shooting shows Jameson wearing a New York Knicks shirt.

The LAPD took custody of Jameson’s body and it’s unclear when the family will get it back as per NBC Los Angeles.

Jameson was a beloved dog

Following the tragic incident there has been an outpouring of tributes for Jameson. Another clip posted by Alpha Wolf shows a small memorial with a candle and flowers placed where the dog was shot, a note reads, “Jameson, the sweetest boy.” The person recording leaves a teddy bear at the small memorial.

A GoFundMe titled “Justice for Jameson” was also set up with the goal of raising money to get justice over the killing as well as pay for the cremation fees. The target has been set at $120,000 and as of Tuesday has just surpassed $100,000. “Anyone who’s met Jameson would tell you he is the sweetest boy in the world.” The GoFundMe description reads.

The dog’s owner’s son told Eyewitness that Jameson was energetic but not violent and that the dog had simply been celebrating the Knicks’ NBA win with his mother. The neighbor responsible for calling the police also spoke to Eyewitness, explaining that they felt guilty for calling 911 but they genuinely believed their neighbor was in trouble.

The LAPD investigation into the incident remains ongoing.