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Examiner: Police didn't fire shots that killed K-9
Friday, May 09, 2008

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner announced today that shots fired by police during an exchange of gunfire in Mount Oliver Tuesday did not kill a police dog.

Instead, Dr. Karl Williams said the bullet that killed K-9 Aulf was fired from a weapon found at the scene of the shootout, which also claimed the life of suspect Justin Jackson.

Mr. Jackson had been confronted by Pittsburgh Police late Tuesday afternoon because they suspected he had a gun. When he complied with orders to show his hands, police say, he was holding a gun. One officer released his K-9 to subdue Mr. Jackson. Police say Mr. Jackson then began firing.

Some witnesses speculated that police firing at Mr. Jackson may have hit the dog.

But Dr. Williams today ruled that out.

He said there is evidence that the weapon found at the scene was fired "at least once, from the inside out, through the pocket of the outer garment that was worn by Mr. Jackson at the time of the shooting."

A statement he released continued: "The projectile that resulted in the death of the canine was fired from the weapon found at the scene. It was not fired from the weapon of either of the two police officers involved in the incident."

First published on May 9, 2008 at 4:52 pm