| P-1 Tip -- These officers were lucky to escape an attack by the Rottweiler. Keep in mind: Deadly force is the option of choice in dealing with attacking dogs. |
By Chris Conley
The Commercial Appeal
A son sicced his dog on his mother, then fired a shotgun at her Sunday night before Memphis police shot him.
The 26-year-old son remained in critical condition at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis on Monday with several gunshot wounds.
Police were called to 5293 Derron about 11:05 and were met down the street by the man’s mother.
The mother, who owns the house on Derron, told police that her son had released his Rottweiler on her, and she showed them serious bite wounds on her legs, police said.
The mother told police she was able to escape from the dog and make it to her car, even as her son was firing his shotgun at her.
She told police the son was inside the house and he was heavily armed.
When police walked up to the house about 11:15, the suspect confronted them at the front door, shotgun in hand.
The officers ordered him to drop it several times, but instead he fired several rounds at them.
The three officers simultaneously opened fire.
The mother was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital, where she was in noncritical condition Monday.
The dog was taken by animal control officers. Police picked up the shotgun as evidence.
The Felony Assault Unit and the department internal affairs unit are investigating.
The three officers have been routinely relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
No one had been charged criminally, and police did not identify the man or his mother.
Copyright 2007 The Commercial Appeal, Inc.