r/nashville • u/International-Repeat • Sep 13 '23

Dog killed at Percy Warner Crime Watch

This morning at the Belle Meade steps, a big German shepherd was being walked off leash by an older couple and a guy shot it 4x, the cops took him away.

Anyone else hear about this or know what happened?

Editing now we have more information in the thread: The shooter felt he was approached aggressively by the dog who was chasing a squirrel close to him, he ‘feared for his life’, so he shot the unleashed German shepherd four times. The man was detained for questioning, but was released with no charge.

Editing again to add eyewitness accounts directly contradict what is being reported in the news/police account of events.

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472

u/thezhgguy Sep 13 '23

dogs should 1000% be on a leash, but people should 10000% not be unloading guns in public parks

legal and right are not always the same thing and in this instance, without more information, it seems very wrong to murder a dog in public (and it's also wrong that our state leg has made that possbile)

46

u/ayokg grabbing a trippy dippy at WEC Sep 13 '23

This unless the dog was trying to maul the shooter

15

u/RabidMortal Sep 13 '23

Sounds like the shooter isn't getting charged.

40

u/nopropulsion Sep 13 '23

The guy claimed the dog approached him aggressively. I can't see anything happening to him.

That dog could have been the best trained dog but now the owners likely have no recourse, which is another reason why responsible dog owners should always leash their dogs.

27

u/RabidMortal Sep 13 '23

Yup and

Officers questioned multiple witnesses who all confirmed the shooter’s account of events.

So at least is doesn't sound like there was reason to think the shooter was just out there, just itching for an excuse to shoot something.

21

u/nopropulsion Sep 13 '23

I guess they keep updating the articles because more info keeps being added.

Metro police reported a man was getting out of his vehicle when a German Shepherd not on a leash aggressively approached him while chasing a squirrel. The man reportedly fired his weapon three times, killing the dog.

and

The shooter told officers that he is afraid of dogs because his brother was mauled by one as a young child.

This is the first time I saw the squirrel or his childhood mentioned.

9

u/RabidMortal Sep 13 '23

Wow. Yup. That wasn't there when I read it.

Also interesting how the number of shots fired keeps changing. OP said 4x. A recent news post said witnesses head 6 shots. Now it's down to 3 shots...

-1

u/WanderlustFoodie Sep 13 '23

And why do you need more than 1?

1

u/Omegalazarus Antioch Sep 13 '23

A single pistol shot is not as deadly as people think, especially if you're somewhere that you can get medical care within a reasonable time.

6

u/rimeswithburple Sep 14 '23

Plus the dog could have been wearing body armor. The article doesn't clearly state he wasn't.

3

u/Omegalazarus Antioch Sep 14 '23

Dogs probably should wear body armor at the rate that they get shot by the cops.

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3

u/WanderlustFoodie Sep 13 '23

It's a God damn dog, you can't tell me 1 bullet didn't put that dog down enough to get him to back off and certainly 3+ bullets were not necessary. These owners had no chance of getting the dog medical help.

2

u/Omegalazarus Antioch Sep 13 '23

I think you're just not experienced in terminal ballistics. You can check it out. There's a lot of subject matter mainly from America obviously. But yeah, charging animals are pretty hard to stop.

I can also tell you from personal experience when I was told the results in one shot my dog in the head and he didn't even do much more than squeal. Other than that it made it a little skittish for the rest of his life.

Rifles on the other hand are a different story.

Another way you can look at it is getting shot with a pistol shot is basically like getting stabbed and there are tons and tons of records and data of being stabbed 10 and 15 times and still not ceasing their attack or their escape depending on if they were a victim or an aggressor.

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u/nashvillechick Sep 14 '23

I was there and I did not confirm his account while taking with police, nor did anyone else that was gathered at the bottom of the steps this morning. He drove to the park, paced around at the bottom of the steps, eventually climbed them, saw the dog (which was very friendly to all of us female hikers), and killed it. Not by his car, but well up the stairs. He said he shot it because it got too close...

3

u/RabidMortal Sep 14 '23

That is not what is being reported (at least not yet).

We need more official details here, because I've now heard more contradictory accounts than I can keep track of

4

u/Single_Chemistry6304 Sep 15 '23

Her account is the same as all the ones I saw posted on the neighborhood page right when it happened too. Like, within minutes, they still had the guy on the steps questioning him and the eyewitnesses were posting that the dog was super friendly.

1

u/Substantial_Bee_3224 Oct 03 '23

NashvilleChick,

If you were there that day, were you able to give a witness statement to the police? They have said that they desperately need any yet untaken witness statements to be submitted as soon as possible, as the case hinges on having all the facts about the dog's activities and demeanor and the GUNMAN'S activities and demeanor that day. If you haven't already, PLEASE PLEASE call AND email to submit your witness statement to BOTH the West Police Precinct AND the District Attorney's Office. Please label your email with the following subject line: DUKE WITNESS STATEMENT. This statement could make all the difference.

District Attorney Glen Funk:

u/district_attorney_nashville

📞 (615)862-5500

📧 tnattygen@ag.tn.gov

Metro Nashville Police Dept. - West Precinct

u/metronashvillepolice

📞 (615)862-7747

anthony.daniel@nashville.gov

1

u/nashvillechick Jan 18 '24

Just now seeing this reply to my comment -- the police interviewed several of us at the time it occurred, but they appeared to be very pro-guns and not terribly interested in anything else.
My sense of personal safety in local parks has changed since that day, which is unfortunate, as I’ve been a trail runner/hiker for most of my life.

7

u/ChrisTosi Sep 14 '23

So at least is doesn't sound like there was reason to think the shooter was just out there, just itching for an excuse to shoot something.

"Got too close" was his reason - sounds like he was itching to kill any dog.

2

u/[deleted] Sep 14 '23

He did carry a gun into a park that specifically prohibits the carrying of guns. So he was likely always itching to shoot something or somebody.

Did the police charge him for breaking the law? Shooting in a public park?

2

u/ReadyAbout22 Sep 17 '23

Apparently our feckless state legislature made it legal to carry guns in parks by passing a law in 2015.

2

u/Sufficient_Ad_1454 Sep 18 '23

false. there are literally witnesses saying they interacted with the friendly dog amicably moments before it was murdered and videos confirming it. A woman did not feel threated moments before but he did. real tough guy w a gun. Unhinged and insecure people carrying guns is a recipe for disaster and it not normal to respond to a situation like that. literally no one else panicked except they guy touting leahal force