A Los Angeles police officer and another person were bitten by a dog during what appeared to be a cleanup operation at a Pacoima homeless encampment Tuesday, prompting an officer to open fire on the animal.
The officer was at the scene of the cleanup in the area of Bradley Avenue and Montague Street around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday when the canine attacked, injuring the officer and another man, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The LAPD later confirmed that shots were fired during the encounter. Police at the scene told reporters an officer shot at the dog, but there was no immediate word on the animal’s condition. It was unclear if the shots were fired by the same officer who was bitten by the dog.
Two rescue ambulances were called to the scene.
One person — reported to be the officer — was taken to a hospital with a leg injury while a second person was treated by paramedics at the location of the encounter, according to reports from the scene.