MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - A woman and two dogs have been taken to the hospital after what started as a dogfight on a busy South Beach street turned into a shooting, police said.
According to Miami Beach Police, they received a call from a man saying he discharged a firearm toward two dogs involved in a fight along Washington Avenue, near Ninth Street, just before 7:10 p.m., Friday.
Witnesses said they saw two dogs fighting near the 7-Eleven on the corner of Washington and Ninth, then heard a gunshot.
“I noticed a yell across the street, and when I looked, I see two dogs attacking, fighting each other,” said witness Norman Irizarry.
Investigators said the caller was the owner of one of the canines involved, and he was apparently trying to break up the fight when he pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Police said the man was trying to protect his dog, but he hit the woman who owns the other dog in the leg.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg and two dogs with injuries.
Cellphone video captured Miami Beach Fire Rescue paramedics treating the injured woman at the scene and putting her on a stretcher.
Paramedics transported the patient to Ryder Trauma Center with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Officers took the injured dogs to a local veterinary hospital for treatment. They are expected to be OK.
Back at the scene, cellphone video captured the dog owner who, police said, pulled the trigger sitting on a sidewalk in handcuffs.
“I’m just glad nobody got seriously hurt,” said Irizarry. “I mean, the lady got hurt, obviously, but I’m hoping she’s going to make a full recovery.”
Police shut down Washington Avenue between Eighth and Tenth streets while they investigated. The roadway has since reopened to traffic.
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