Dog Shot After Biting Visitors At Green Spring Gardens

A dog was euthanized after being shot by a Fairfax County police officer at Green Spring Gardens Tuesday afternoon. A had reportedly bitten two visitors before police were called to the scene.

The dog was shot around 12:30 p.m. Officers responded to the park for a report of two dogs running loose. Officers tried to contain the dogs, but the same dog that bit the visitors reportedly acted aggressively toward an officer. That officer shot one round of bullets, and the dog was hit in the leg.

The dog, identified as a white German Shepherd, fled and returned home. The dog was taken to a veterinary hospital, and police believe it had a non-life-threatening injury. The owner decided to have the dog euthanized.

The officer who shot the dog is a Mason District Station officer cross-trained to assist Animal Protection Police. Police Chief Ed Roessler Jr. plans to release the officer's name within the next 10 days.

A criminal investigation of the incident, an internal investigation and an independent review by a police auditor are underway. It is being investigated as a use of deadly force incident.