A gunshot and a dog barking can be heard in NBC10 Boston video that recorded a shot being fired near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street Thursday. An officer shot at, but didn’t wound, what police describe as a vicious dog, which was caught after being hit with a Taser blocks away. We spoke to the dog’s concerned owners, as well Mayor Michelle Wu.
A Boston officer fired their gun during a confrontation Thursday with what police described as a "vicious" dog, though the owner said her pet was just being protective.
Boston police said it happened around 9:30 a.m. on Boylston Street near the Boston Marathon finish line.
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WATCH HEREDanielle Michalsky is the owner of the dog. She said she and her wife Kassi are unhoused and were just waking up next to the Boston Public Library when they were approached by police.
“They wanted me to jump up right away. Get going, you need to go right now or else! That’s exactly how it was said! Or else!”
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Michalsky said she tried to restrain her 9-month-old Staffordshire bull terrier, Maggie May, as police yelled at them.
“They asked us to leave. Our dog got protective. However, she did not bite the officer. He did fire a warning shot, but directly at her, not in the air as a warning.”
Michalsky said they shot at her pet, though police said the animal was not hit.
"One shot, at her. I saw the gun come out and I said don’t do it, don’t do it and they shot at her.”
An NBC10 Boston camera was rolling because this happened the same time as the installation of the Boston Marathon finish line. Before the gunshot, an officer can be seen speaking to someone sitting on the ground, a hand on his weapon. A few moments later, a gunshot rings out off camera. The footage then shows multiple officers with their weapons drawn. Voices calling "stay back" can be heard as a dog barks and Boston police officers then told the crowd to move away.
NBC10 Boston crews then saw Boston police officers swarm the area outside of the Boston Public Library as the dog ran away from the scene.
According to police, officers chased the dog to the area of the Boston Common and Downtown Crossing, where officers deployed stun guns to catch her. Maggie May is now with animal control.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu defended the officers' use of force.
“I know there were efforts made to try and deescalate and it’s very complicated when there are multiple people flagging that some behavior is taking place from an animal that is putting others at risk, so they took action quickly and I’m glad no one on the scene was hurt," Wu said.
Those who live and work in the area were stunned by what unfolded on a busy morning.
"It's shocking all these people are on their way to work, it’s a nice Boston spring day. Having this stuff happen it's very sad, shooting the dog, it's like what did the dog do?" said city resident Serena Matriarch.
The investigation is ongoing.
