Off-Duty Police Officer Fatally Shoots Two Dogs at Tamarac Hotel
Tamarac, FL – An off-duty Lauderhill police officer fatally shot two dogs outside the Extended Stay America hotel in Tamarac late Monday morning, according to a statement from the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO).
The incident occurred in the parking lot of the hotel at 3873 West Commercial Boulevard. BSO’s preliminary investigation revealed that the officer opened fire after the two dogs allegedly attacked his own dogs during an altercation. The identities of the officer and the dogs involved have not been released.
Witnesses in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots as the situation unfolded.
“I heard like four gunshots. It was like pow, pow, pow, pow,” said Germain Leger, a witness at the scene.
Minnie Mitchell, who learned of the incident from her husband, expressed dismay. “I asked him what happened, and he said two dogs were shot,” she said. “It’s a shame.”
Aerial footage captured after the shooting showed two white tarps covering the deceased dogs in the parking lot. Authorities have not yet determined who owned the two dogs that were killed.
BSO confirmed that its Special Victims and Crime Scene units responded to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation. No additional details have been released about the circumstances leading to the shooting.
CBS News Miami reached out to Extended Stay America for comment but has not received a response.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together what happened and determine whether any legal actions will follow.
This incident has sparked concern and debate in the community, with many calling for clearer guidelines and accountability in situations involving off-duty officers and the use of firearms.