Two dogs were stolen from their owners at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon, according to police in Washington, D.C.
Investigators believe the culprits behind the dognappings were also behind a double shooting and an armed robbery. All four events happened over a span of 36 minutes.
Metropolitan Police said the robbery of a 1-year-old French bulldog named Bruno happened while the dog’s owner and her boyfriend were taking the canine for a walk. According to Bruno’s owner, Jamaica Harvey, the suspects pulled a gun on her boyfriend and demanded he give them the dog.
CALIFORNIA WOMAN TO PLEAD GUILTY TO ELABORATE FAKE KIDNAPPING
“They asked for his dog, they showed a gun, and he wasn’t really willing to put his life against the gun, so he was like, ‘Take the dog,’” Harvey said. “Just having a dog that someone wants to take is very scary.”
The other dog, a 10-week-old Australian Shepherd named Pablo, was taken minutes after Bruno, police said.
Abby Sev, Pablo’s owner, said she took to social media for help finding her dog. Sev said she believes Pablo was taken to sell and asked the public to keep an eye out on Craigslist and Facebook. Pablo is identifiable by his one blue eye and one brown eye.
‘Dogs Stolen’ | Jamaica Harvey’s dog, 14-mo French Bulldog Bruno was stolen in Brightwood Park today too. @DCPoliceDept tells @RSprouseNews this case is connected to the other dog that was stolen in Shaw earlier today: https://t.co/EBtsqzrexi (@wusa9) pic.twitter.com/50GuCXEjfa
— John Henry (@JohnHenryWUSA) April 14, 2022
The Humane Rescue Alliance tweeted Wednesday that it was aware of the missing dogs and was in contact with the police.
“Our field services and customer care teams have been made aware and will keep a careful eye out for sightings of Bruno and Pablo — whether it be while we’re responding to calls in the field or if the dogs come through our doors,” the tweet said. “We are devastated to learn of Bruno and Pablo being taken from their families, and we’re prepared to assist MPD however we can.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The dognapping suspects are also believed to have shot two men at approximately 4:30 p.m. Both men were taken to the nearest hospital and are expected to survive.
Wednesday’s events were not the first time people have taken dogs from their owners in Washington, D.C. Someone took a Japanese Shar-Pei from its owner last year, and a different French bulldog puppy was taken from its owner at gunpoint in October. It is not clear whether either incident is related to the recent thefts.
