A DeKalb County, Ala., deputy sheriff was serving out a warrant Tuesday in the Dogtown area when he shot and killed a dog and injured another who were running at the him in a threatening manner, Sheriff Jimmy Harris said.
The deputy was alone and serving a warrant to an individual who the sheriff's department deals with frequently, Harris said.
"And you never know what to expect when you go over there," he said.
The deputy knocked on the door, and two dogs inside the house started barking and growling. The sheriff's department would later find out the resident was vacationing in Florida. As the deputy was leaving, the dogs got outside via a doggy-door and started running at the deputy in a "threatening manner," the release said.
The deputy shot and killed one dog, and injured another. The two dogs were a boxer mix and a doberman, Harris said, but he didn't know which dog was killed and which one was injured. Harris said the deputy did the right thing, as the whole event was captured on the deputy's body camera.
"You know, he had three seconds to react," he said. "It was no doubt what happened."
An investigation is under way, but that's standard procedure whenever an officer discharges a firearm, Harris said. The deputy isn't on leave.
"This is a tragic incident that occurred and we are glad that the deputy or anyone else was not injured during this situation," Harris said in a released statement. "The deputies have worn the body cams for about 5 years now. After reviewing this incident on tape with the Chief Deputy and the Assistant Chief Deputy we stand behind the deputy's actions 100 percent."