Family dog shot dead on Christmas Eve after it charged at officer, Raleigh Police say

A Raleigh family lost its pet this Christmas after their dog was shot and killed by a police officer.

It happened Tuesday in the 3900 block of Alder Grove Lane in southeast Raleigh.

A Raleigh Police Department spokesman said an officer was investigating a reported stolen vehicle when an aggressive dog charged at the officer, according to ABC11, The News & Observer’s newsgathering partner.

The officer tried to back away but the dog advanced, and the officer fired his gun, killing the dog, police said.

“This is not the result we wanted, especially during the holiday season,” a department spokesman told ABC11.

The dog’s owner told The N&O the dog was a 5-year-old husky named Maxi.

CBS17 reported the family was indoors while Maxi was outside Tuesday night and that the dog would go outside on his own without any problems

The Police Department’s Internal Affairs Unit is conducting an investigation, as is protocol when officers discharge their weapons.

This story was updated Dec. 26, 2024, to correct the age of the dog.

This story was originally published December 25, 2024 at 9:44 AM.