UMVA has learned that a tragic incident unfolded in Canoga Park, where a two-year-old dog named Jameson was shot and killed by LAPD officers during a celebration at his apartment.
The family dog, a golden retriever, St Bernard, and poodle mix, was wearing a New York Knicks jersey as he lay motionless on the floor, surrounded by his distraught owner, Marie Marsielle. Footage from the scene shows Marie crying over Jameson's body, shouting: 'We were just so happy. We were celebrating the Knicks. We were f*ing celebrating the Knicks.'
According to information obtained by UMVA, the incident began with a welfare check sparked by celebration screams from Marie's apartment. A neighbour had called police, expressing genuine concerns about the noise. When officers arrived, they asked Marie to secure Jameson, but in the chaos, the dog exited the apartment and charged at one of the officers, resulting in a fatal shooting.
Marie later described Jameson as a non-aggressive dog, saying: 'He wasn’t baring his teeth, he wasn’t growling, he wasn’t aggressive, he wasn’t barking. He was just moving toward the officer.' Her son, Jeremiah Garcia, witnessed the aftermath, describing the scene as 'horrible' and struggling to console his mother.
A Justice for Jameson campaign has been launched, with a memorial growing outside the family's home. An Instagram post has been overwhelmed with comments, likes, and shares, and a GoFundMe has been set up to help honour Jameson's memory and cover cremation fees. Jeremiah described Jameson as 'the sweetest boy in the world,' and many are rallying around the family to demand justice.
The LAPD has released a statement, saying that 14 officers responded to the scene and that Jameson's body was taken by the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services. The incident is being handled by the Force Investigation Department, but for Marie and her family, the pain and grief of losing a beloved pet remain.
