A Texas police officer accidentally killed a woman while shooting at her dog
A patrol officer in Texas accidentally shot and killed a woman when he fired multiple times at a dog that was charging at him.
The unidentified officer arrived to a grassy area near a commercial district in the Dallas suburb of Arlington Thursday after a witness said that Margarita Brooks, 30, was passed out.
The Arlington Police Department said that the officer saw an unrestrained dog near the woman when he arrived on the scene. The dog, said investigators, belonged to Brooks.
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The dog ran toward the officer as he called out repeatedly "concerning her welfare," officials said in the statement.
As the dog continued to charge at the officer, he fired repeatedly as he retreated back.
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The woman, also unidentified, yelled out after the officer fired at the dog. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The investigation is ongoing, but officers will release information regarding how many shots were fired and how many times Brooks was struck later Friday. It remains unclear why Brooks was passed out, said investigators.
The dog survived the gunfire.
Police did not state whether the officer was placed on administrative leave.
Contributing: Associated Press
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas police officer killed woman in Arlington while shooting at dog
