Video of police officer shooting dog sparks investigation

CLEBURNE, Texas — Amanda Henderson and her husband have three dogs. They used to have one more, until he was shot and killed by Cleburne police.

"I see a murder," Henderson said. "I see him murdering my puppy, our family ... our dog."

It was August when police responded to a report of Henderson's pit bulls aggressively roaming the neighborhood. They had escaped from her fenced-in backyard.

One was captured nearly immediately. A police report says when an officer located the other two, they were friendly at first and wagging their tails, until 7-month-old Maximus started growling and coming towards the officer. The officer then shot him.

The story didn't make sense to Henderson, because she says Max was so friendly. So she requested the video from the lapel camera worn by the officer.

What she saw horrified her.

"Never once did Max stop wagging his tail. Never once do you hear a growl, an aggressive anything," Henderson said.

Cleburne police are now investigating, but say the short video clip of the dog being shot doesn't tell the whole story.

"The city is obviously concerned about the video showing an officer shooting a dog," said police spokeswoman Kelly Summey.

A statement Summey provided said the dog was indeed being aggressive before he was shot. But Henderson said no amount of video will make what happened right.

"This officer should not have done that, and he knows better," she said. "You didn't give this puppy a chance. He's alive, as much as you are."

Summey wouldn't tell News 8 if the officer in question is on leave during the investigation, or how long the investigation will take.

Summey also didn't know how many dogs have been fatally shot by police in Cleburne in recent years.