UPDATE: On this evenings 6pm local news (all three affiliates carried it live) Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper made a statement. The officers DID NOT KNOW that the dog had been shot until Mr. Jackson was down. Jackson was carrying and shot (at Pgh. Police) a .357 Magnum that was traced from a home break in (in the early 2000s). Jackson was carrying a gun reported stolen from a burglary. Per Chief Harper: THE OFFICERS DID NOT KNOW THE DOG WAS SHOT UNTIL THEY WENT TO THE DOWNED SUSPECT. So, per the Chief of Police of Pittsburgh...Jackson was not shot for downing the dog...Jackson was shot as two Pittsburgh Police officers 'RETURNED HIS FIRE.' The officers were being shot at (in addition to the dog).
Again...just an update...
The question is...why was the dog released?
Did he point the gun at the officers? Or was it just a chance to use the dog?
It’s unreasonable to expect a citizen to know whether a dog is trying to disarm him or attack him. If this had been the wrong person, just an innocent civilian, how is he to know that he’s not in danger?
...unless you want the police just releasing dogs to attack people without reason, then there had better be a reason for the release. Did the chief say that Mr. Jackson was shooting first, before the dog was released? Or even threatening anyone? Or just complying with the request?