Las Vegas Police Defend Cop Who Shot Family Pitbull Dead

Conducting internal investigation anyway

The Las Vegas police officer who went onto private property Sunday and fatally shot a family's bully pit bull was within his legal rights because he was investigating a gunshot and heard moaning or screaming coming from the backyard, Las Vegas police said Monday.

But an official with the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada said the onus is on police to prove circumstances did in fact legally justify the officer's right to be in the backyard.