Lunging "pit bull" fatally shot by Coeur d’Alene officer was a black lab

by BRIANA BERMENSOLO

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho—An officer shot and killed a pit bull on Wednesday morning near 8th Street and Sherman. Investigators described the dog as a “vicious” pit bull and said it lunged at the officer. However, the dog's owner said the dog was not a pit bull but a black lab (pictured above).

The incident began Wednesday morning when an officer responded to call about a suspicious van. The caller claimed the driver of van was watching young children from a nearby parking lot. The owners of coffee shop reported the white van because they thought it was possibly connected to child luring case.

When an officer approached the van with his gun drawn, the dog lunged out of the open driver’s side window according to Coeur d’Alene Police Department leaders. The officer said the pit bull lunged at his face. Investigators said the officer fired one round from his service weapon and shot the dog in the chest. The dog later died.

The driver of the van, Craig Jones, was not in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. Jones said he was nearby eating breakfast when the shooting happened.

“This still isn’t even real to me,” Jones told KREM 2 News.

Jones raised the two-year-old black lab named Arfie and said the dog did not have a mean bone in his body.

“If my dog is barking and wondering who's peering through the windows he doesn't care if you're a cop, an attorney, or President Bush. He doesn't know any difference ,” said Jones.

Coeur d’Alene OD leaders said the officer who shot the dog was distraught following the incidence. Authorities also said they believe the child predator who has been spotted in a similar white van is still on the loose.