A Haitian-American nurse and her son have filed a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles after their beloved family dog was fatally shot by a police officer during a celebration of the New York Knicks’ 2026 championship victory.
Marie Marseille and her son, Jeremiah Garcia, are seeking accountability for the June 13 death of Jameson, their 2-year-old golden Saint Bernard doodle, who was shot outside Marseille’s apartment in Canoga Park.
The incident began when officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a report of a “screaming woman” inside an apartment. According to the department, officers arrived around 8:55 p.m. and encountered Marseille with a large dog barking nearby. What had been reported as possible distress was later explained as Marseille celebrating the Knicks’ first NBA championship in 53 years.
According to the lawsuit, Jameson did not pose an immediate threat to the officers. Marseille and Garcia allege the shooting involved excessive force and negligence, and they argue officers failed to give Marseille adequate time to secure the dog or use other available options before opening fire.
The family’s account differs sharply from the LAPD’s official version. Police said Marseille was instructed to secure Jameson and briefly closed her apartment door. According to the department, when the door reopened, Jameson exited and “charged” toward an officer, prompting the shooting.
Body-camera footage later released by the department intensified public scrutiny. The video showed the encounter unfolding within seconds as officers repeatedly instructed Marseille to put the dog away. Marseille has maintained that Jameson was not aggressive.
The shooting sparked widespread outrage after video of Marseille grieving over Jameson’s body circulated online. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called for a thorough investigation, while city leaders raised questions about police training and encounters involving animals.
The federal lawsuit now moves the case from public outrage into the courts, where the family is seeking unspecified damages and attorneys’ fees while challenging the circumstances surrounding Jameson’s death.
For Marseille and her family, the case is about more than compensation. It is a fight for accountability after what began as a night of celebration ended in the loss of a beloved member of their family.
Editor’s note: I would be careful with the phrase “unconstitutional policing practices” unless that exact claim appears in the filed federal complaint. I also would not state as fact that Jameson “did not pose an immediate threat”; that is the family’s allegation, while LAPD says the dog charged at an officer. Framing both sides this way keeps the article accurate and legally safer.
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