Officer Shoots Woman, Pit Bull Playing
Woman, Dog Expected To Survive
POSTED: Thursday, October 8, 2009
UPDATED: 3:36 pm CDT October 8, 2009
LA MARQUE, Texas -- A police officer shot a woman and the dog she was playing with when the officer thought the dog was attacking the woman, witnesses told KPRC Local 2.


Woman, Pit Bull Shot While Playing
Witnesses said a La Marque police officer was driving along 5th Avenue near Walnut Street at about 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, after she helped a person around the corner.
The officer heard people playing and screaming, witnesses said. A 23-year-old woman and her friend were playing with a pit bull named Sugar.
Witnesses said the officer got out of the car and fired several shots toward the dog.
"The young lady started hollering and just at that time a police officer was coming down and thought the dog was attacking the lady," witness Dennis Wallace said. "I can't say that I would do anything different. The (officer) drew down and started shooting. I couldn't say I wouldn't have done that."
The woman's parents said one of the bullets hit the ground and fragments ricocheted, wounding her in the upper body. She was taken by helicopter to Memorial Hermann Hospital, treated and released.
Sugar was also wounded. The dog's owner took Sugar to a vet and it is expected to recover.
La Marque police declined to comment about the shooting, but said the 30-year-old officer has been with the department for about a year and a half.
The Galveston County District Attorney's Office and the Galveston County Sheriff's Office are investigating.

This officer lacks the judgement to be anything more than in charge of the Fry station at McDonalds.