A police officer fatally shot a dog in Hawthorne over the weekend, and it was captured on graphic video (after the jump).

The Hawthorne Police Department this week said it's investigating the officer's actions, but it already appears that officials are backing the cop:

Police say it all happened sometime after 5:44 p.m. Sunday, after cops responded to a residence at 137th Street and Jefferson Avenue to confront two armed robbery suspects they believed were holed up there.

An hour and forty minutes later, the suspects surrendered, police said.


View Larger Map

But during that time, police say, a suspect rolled up in a car that was playing loud music. He got out with his 80-pound Rottweiler on a long leash and walked next to where officers were working the stand-off scene, according to a Hawthorne PD statement.

He intended to videotape the action, police said.

Stupid move if you ask us. Cops note that others were taking video, but while keeping a safe distance from the officers on-the-job (and without attack dogs on leashes). But it gets better:

[Warning: graphic video]:

The genius, seeing unhappy police approaching him, put his dog in his car, cops said. But the windows were wide open.

As officers took him into custody, the Rottweiler jumped out and, as you can see on the video, began attacking.

One cop opened fire, killing the dog. The person who uploaded the video says, “His dog runs out the car while the cops shoot in defense.”

The owner, Leon Rosby, was arrested on suspicion of interfering with police, according to the Hawthorne department.

Send feedback and tips to the author. Follow Dennis Romero on Twitter at @dennisjromero. Follow LA Weekly News on Twitter at @laweeklynews.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.