HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – The Harris County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a man shooting at a local dog park that left a family's pet dead.
Randall Livingston's mother took 2-year-old Diesel, a Staffordshire bull terrier to the dog park at Bay Area Park Sunday morning.
"He was always happy, not aggressive," Livingston said.
But what was supposed to be a day of dog play turned deadly when Diesel and another dog had what Livingston describes as an "interaction," Witnesses told Local 2, the dogs appeared to be playing together when the other dog's owner kicked Diesel and then shot him three times.
Diesel's owners rushed him to an emergency veterinarian clinic where it was decided his injuries were too severe and he was put down.
Harris County regulations allow people with concealed handgun licenses to carry weapons in public parks, except during some special events.
The Sheriff's Office is not identifying the man because he has not been charged with a crime, but says he did have a concealed handgun license.
"It doesn't really matter if he has a concealed weapons license or not, if he shot that dog, that can be an act of cruelty which is a felony -- it's a state jail felony to kill somebody's dog," said Zandra Anderson, an attorney who specializes in animal law.
Livingston says his family is focused on grieving Diesel, not judging the shooter.
"I don't like situation, I think it was a horrible outcome and could have been handled a lot different but at the end of the day nothing is going to bring my dog back," he said.
Once the Sheriff's Office completes its investigation, the Harris County District Attorney's Office will decide whether to file charges or send the case to a grand jury.