A dog was shot during an overnight home invasion while protecting his owner who escaped from the scene naked.
The man up around 3:30 a.m. when he heard what sounded like someone breaking into his apartment. The man thought he overheard a few people entering the apartment on the 8200 block of Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia’s Holmesburg neighborhood and then he saw at least one masked gunman in a hooded sweatshirt, according to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
The 27-year-old resident, who wasn’t immediately identified, let his Boxer/pit bull mix dog out to confront the burglars as he jumped off his second-floor balcony -- fully naked -- to escape possible attack.
As the naked man ran down the street he heard screaming from the home -- possibly as the dog attacked one of the burglars -- then gunshots, according to investigators. At least three shots were fired from two different weapons.
Police arrived to find the dog shot in the face and the Frankford Terrace apartment ransacked.
"The couches are turned over, tables and chairs were turned over, it seems that every piece of furniture was knocked down," Small said. "There's a lot of blood from the dog who, like I said, was shot two times."
Authorities gave no condition for the dog but cameras captured the leashed pet walking on its own while being taken into an animal control van following the shooting.
The pet's owner suffered minor injuries from his two-story fall.
The burglars got away and the victim gave little description of the doers expect that there was at least one masked gunman in a hoodie accompanied by at least a couple other people, Small said.
Anyone with information should contact Philadelphia Police.
Photo Credit: NBC10