SFPD Shoots Man and Dog After Unprovoked Bite Near Union Square

San Francisco police shot a man and his dog near Union Square on Sunday after the dog allegedly bit a bystander and later attacked an officer. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. near Market and O’Farrell streets, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

Officers were initially flagged down by a person who said they had been bitten by a large off-leash dog. Police made contact with the dog’s owner, a man experiencing homelessness, and attempted to speak with him about putting his dog, a German Shepherd-Husky mix, on a leash.

Witnesses told the San Francisco Chronicle that the dog repeatedly barked at police during the encounter. One officer then discharged their firearm, striking the man in the left leg and the dog in the right front leg.

According to the Chronicle, witnesses said the injuries did not appear life-threatening. A street performer nearby reported hearing two gunshots and seeing the dog limping with a visible wound.

While officers were detaining the man, the dog briefly ran away before returning to the area. Police said the dog bit one of the officers on the scene who had not discharged a weapon.

The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment and remains in stable condition. San Francisco Animal Care & Control took custody of the dog, which is also being treated and is expected to recover.

The original bite victim was transported to the hospital. The officer bitten by the dog received medical attention at the scene.

The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the SFPD’s Investigative Services and Internal Affairs Divisions, and the Department of Police Accountability are all conducting investigations. In accordance with department policy, a mandatory public town hall meeting will be held within ten days to provide further information about the shooting.

The police department has not yet released the names of those involved.