Officer Under Investigation After Killing a Jack Russell Terrier

HALTOM CITY — An internal investigation is under way after a Haltom City police officer fatally shot a Jack Russell terrier Monday afternoon while officers were serving a search warrant.

The officer, who was not identified, remained on duty, police said Friday.

But family members at the house where the shooting occurred said Friday that Willy, the 40-pound terrier, never attacked the officer.

"I was sitting on the couch when the door busted open," said Don Burns, 85, of Haltom City. "I heard someone say, 'Everyone on the floor. Police.’ "

Burns said Willy was sitting in a chair, jumped down and stood in front of the officer when he was shot. "It all happened so fast," Burns said. "But he [Willy] never attacked the officer."

Burns noted that another dog in the room, a pit bull terrier named Janie, ran to a bedroom when she heard the gunshot.

Haltom City police Sgt. Terry Stayer said Friday that a preliminary report on the incident showed that the animal was aggressive. The incident happened Monday afternoon in the 5300 block of McQuade Street.

Just four days earlier, police had arrested Dustin Keeble at the house on suspicion of stealing a car, evading arrest and possession of a controlled substance.

Keeble, 20, has nine convictions ranging from theft to assault with bodily injury dating to February 2005, according to Tarrant County criminal court records. He was last sentenced to six years in prison in April 2007 for unlawful possession of a firearm, theft and burglary, records show.

Police have responded 65 times to the house since March 2003, according to Haltom City police records.

Haltom City police were involved in another dog shooting in June.

Kevin Valenzuela was shot by a Haltom City police officer’s stray bullet intended for his dog. Officers had gone to Valenzuela’s North Richland Hills house in the 3400 block of Willowcrest Drive to arrest his friend Jaime Moreno on suspicion of burglary, police have said.

A Haltom City officer fired two shots at Valenzuela’s 80-pound pit bull terrier when the dog charged at him, officials have said. The dog was grazed, and Valenzuela was shot in his left leg and grazed on his right.