Police: Man killed by officer used stolen gun to shoot dog

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh police say a man used a stolen handgun to fatally shoot a police dog before he was shot and killed by the dog's handler.

Chief Nate Harper says police saw 19-year-old Justin Jackson shooting Tuesday night with a .357 Magnum and returned fire. Harper says police didn't realize that Jackson had shot the dog until after police shot Jackson.

Harper says the gun Jackson used was reported stolen from a home in 2006. Harper says the bullet taken from the dog was consistent with the gun.

Harper says the officers acted appropriately.

Following procedure, police placed the officers on paid leave while an investigation is under way.

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