The Last Night of a Knicks-Clad Pet Dog: Police Shooting Sparks Uproar in the US

First NBA Championship in 53 Years Since 1973
Celebrations Across the City Spark Incidents in Some Areas

On the day New York celebrated its first championship in 53 years, a tragedy unfolded in a Los Angeles home. As a woman cheered while watching the New York Knicks win the NBA championship, a neighbor mistook her voice for screams of distress and called 911. The police dispatched to the scene ended up shooting and killing the family’s pet dog, sparking widespread controversy in American society.

The woman, known to be from New York, cheered loudly with her family as the Knicks won. However, neighbors who heard this thought the woman was screaming inside the house and called the police. THE US SUN

On June 16, Yonhap News introduced a recent incident involving the fatal shooting of a pet dog in the United States. The incident occurred on the night of June 13 at a condominium on Jordan Avenue in Canoga Park, Los Angeles. On that day, New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals, clinching the series 4-1. This was the Knicks’ first NBA title since 1973, ending a 53-year championship drought.

A woman known to be from New York cheered loudly with her family as they watched the Knicks’ championship moment. However, a neighbor who heard this mistook the woman’s excitement for distress inside the house and called the police. According to ABC7 Los Angeles, police responded to a report that a woman was screaming. The woman was celebrating the Knicks’ victory at the time, and her 2-year-old pet dog, Jamison, was reportedly wearing a New York Knicks shirt.

When police arrived, the woman reportedly explained that there was no problem. However, officers asked her to secure the large dog inside the house. As she tried to bring the dog in, the situation escalated when the dog slipped out the door.

Dog Owner: "He Wasn't Growling"...Police: "He Charged at Us"

The dog owner insists that her pet did not try to attack the police officers. She pleaded that the dog never showed its teeth or growled; it simply walked over. In contrast, the LAPD stated that the dog charged at the officers, prompting them to open fire. The Guardian reported that Jamison, a 2-year-old mixed breed of Golden Retriever, Saint Bernard, and Poodle, was found dead, and video footage of the owner sobbing while holding her dog’s body spread on social media, fueling criticism of the police response. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has also said she will discuss the matter with police leadership to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation.

ABC7 New York reported that amidst the crowd celebrating the victory, several school buses were set on fire or damaged, a 17-year-old boy was shot in the foot, and at least 10 NYPD officers were injured. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

There are growing calls in the local community for the release of police body camera footage. City council members and civic groups are demanding a full review of how a simple misunderstanding led to a pet’s death, whether the police response was appropriate, and if there were any non-lethal alternatives available.

Celebration Turns to Chaos in Parts of New York After 53-Year Wait

The Knicks’ victory is a historic moment in New York sports. For Knicks fans, who have endured decades of stagnation and disappointment since their championships in 1970 and 1973, this title was a long-awaited event. However, the post-championship excitement quickly turned to chaos in some areas. Near Times Square and Madison Square Garden, numerous fans gathered, with some engaging in violent behavior such as climbing on vehicles, breaking windows, and setting buses on fire.

Numerous fans gathered near New York's Times Square and Madison Square Garden, with some engaging in violent behavior such as climbing onto vehicles, breaking windows, and setting fire to buses. Photo by AP Yonhap News Agency

ABC7 New York reported that amid the crowd celebrating the victory, multiple school buses were set on fire or damaged, a 17-year-old boy was shot in the foot, and at least 10 NYPD officers were injured. Police arrested a total of 63 people, with charges including assaulting police officers, possession of weapons, property damage, rioting, and obstruction of justice.

CBS New York also reported that some crowds climbed onto school buses in Times Square, breaking hoods and windows, and that five buses were either set on fire or damaged. Police donned riot gear to disperse the crowds, and firearms were recovered at the scene of the shooting.

Meanwhile, New York City announced that it would hold a ticker-tape parade and a city hall ceremony on June 18 along the “Canyon of Heroes” section of Broadway in Manhattan to commemorate the Knicks’ championship. This will be the first ticker-tape parade in the Knicks’ franchise history, and the team will be awarded the “Key to the City.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.