Dog shot by police after San Marino home burglary

SAN MARINO, Calif. (KABC) -- A frightening home burglary in San Marino left a nanny traumatized, and in the ensuing chaos, a neighborhood dog was shot by police.

The incident occurred in the 900 block of Winston Avenue at about 7:45 a.m.

Police say after the nanny dropped off two kids at school, she returned home and was confronted by the burglar in the garage.

"He demanded property from her. She ran into the residence through the garage, locked herself into a room then into a closet, securing herself and called 911," said San Marino police Chief John Incontro. "During the time that she was calling, the suspect followed her and told her to get off the phone, told her to come out. She refused."

Police say the suspect ransacked the home and stole a Mercedes-Benz SUV in the garage and took off. Officers arrived at the scene and set up a perimeter to search for the suspect. Investigators say when officers entered the backyard, a large black dog charged at them, prompting one of the officers to shoot the animal.

"They were confronted by a large, aggressive dog. One officer, fearing for his safety, fired one round from his service weapon. That round missed. The dog continued to move towards him. The officer, again, fearing for his safety, fired a second round that struck the dog," Incontro said.

Sammy Abdel-Al says his dog named Weezy, a pit bull-boxer mix he has had for six years, was limping and bleeding when she came to him.

"So I heard the couple of gunshots so I woke and saw the dog coming, running to me," he said.

Abdel-Al, however, says he is not upset with the police officer who shot his dog. He says the San Marino Police Department did apologize for shooting Weezy and that he knows officers were just trying to arrest the suspect and protect the community.

The dog was transported to an animal hospital by the Pasadena Humane Society, where he underwent a couple of surgeries, but was expected to survive.

Meanwhile, police say break-ins are far from the norm in the upscale San Marino neighborhood.

Authorities found the stolen 2014 white Mercedes-Benz GL, which has the California license plate 7CWA404, near the northbound 405 and 101 freeways in Sherman Oaks.

The search for the suspect continues. He was described as a black male, between 28 and 30 years old, wearing a blue and black shirt, dark pants and carrying a fanny pack on his side.

Anyone with information was asked to contact San Marino police Sgt. Richard Ward at (626) 300-0722.