A police officer fatally shot a pit bull after he says the dog charged at him.
The incident happened after officers arrived at 156 E. 184th St. to respond to a reported domestic dispute around 5:15 a.m.
They say a neighbor's 4-year-old pit bull approached officers on the fifth floor of the building as they were heading up the stairs. Authorities say the officer who shot the pit bull was unharmed.
The dog's owner is distraught, saying Spike was a friendly dog. She says anytime people came up the stairs the dog would typically greet them.
Neighbors in the building tell News 12 it was a "senseless shooting."
Police officials say efforts are being made to equip officers with other devices that will help them avoid shooting aggressive animals, but that technology hasn't been implemented yet.