Rottweiler Fatally Shot by L. A. Officer

A Los Angeles police officer shot and killed a Rottweiler dog belonging to a Sepulveda man shortly after its owner was ordered to stand trial on charges that he tortured a Simi Valley man in September by putting him in a cage with six Rottweilers, police said.

Two police officers, four-year veteran William Hunt and rookie Kirby Carranza, went to the home of Jeffrey Shepard, 29, in the 9100 block of Noble Avenue in Sepulveda about 10:30 p.m. Monday in response to a complaint of loud music and construction noise, Police Capt. Vance Procter said.

As the officers approached the house, three large Rottweilers attacked them, Procter said. Hunt jumped into the house. Carranza ran, and one of the dogs chased him. Procter said Carranza fired two shots, which hit the dog, but it continued to pursue him, and he fired twice more, killing it.

Shepard was arrested Tuesday on charges of discharging a firearm in a negligent manner, police said. The arrest followed complaints that Shepard had fired a shot after police left following the incident with the dog Monday night, police said.

Shepard disputed the police account of his dog’s death, saying the animal never attacked the officer.

Shepard had been ordered earlier Monday to stand trial on charges of assault and false imprisonment, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office.

Shepard was arrested in September for allegedly torturing Ronald Henry, a window installer working at Shepard’s house, in a dispute over money. Henry’s body was covered with glue and feathers, he was burned with a stun gun, his eyebrows were pulled out and he was placed in a cage with six vicious Rottweilers, Gibbons said.