Owner of dog shot, killed by Kinston police officer talks to WITN

KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) – The owner of a dog that was shot and killed by an Eastern Carolina police officer after officials say it attacked him, is now talking to WITN.

Kemesha Dunn took the time to reflect on the good times she had with her dog Luna before she was shot and killed by a Kinston police officer.

“If she wanted us to rub her she would make us rub her and if we stopped she would start crying,” Dunn said.

The Kinston Police Department says officers went to a home on Terminal Street Tuesday for a disturbance.

After investigating, police say a suspect was arrested. However, as the suspect was being taken into the patrol vehicle, several people at the scene started arguing with the arresting officer.

According to police, the dog escaped from the vehicle it was in and lunged at the officer several times, biting him one time on the left thigh. But Dunn says that is not how it went down.

“She did not attack him. She didn’t try she didn’t bite. He said get your dog. I said I got her don’t shoot and he did it anyway,” Dunn said.

Police say the officer shot the dog once, killing the animal. It was gunfire that rang throughout the neighborhood.

“I just kinda jumped ‘cause it startled me a little bit,” neighbor Rachel Barnes said.

It was a gunshot that police say was in self-defense.

Police Chief Keith Goyette spoke about it in a statement: “This is a tragic incident for everyone involved, our officers are trained to handle a variety of situations, but the safety of our officers and the public is always our top priority. We are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure all protocols were followed,” Chief Goyette said.

Chief Goyette declined to do an interview with WITN.

Dunn now says she hopes the officers see and understand the damage caused and the loss she has endured, a loss she feels could have been avoided.

Meanwhile, Dunn says an officer told her a company was supposed to stop by and pick Luna up, however, Luna remains beside the house. Dunn says their next steps are to bury her.

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