The horrific moment NYPD officer shoots dog on crowded city Read

A disturbing video of an NYPD officer shooting a charging pit bull in broad daylight in front of dozens of screaming witnesses has been released to Gothamist. 

 The footage shows how the police officers approached the dog's owner while he was lying unconscious on the street before the animal, named Star, snapped at a bystander's leg. 

Star quickly reverses direction and lunges toward the police officer, who shoots it twice before the animal comes to a halt, twitching on the street in agony.

[The police] were telling people standing around to get back, but a lady was standing behind the passed out-guy got a little too close, so the dog nips at her,' a witness told Gothamist. 

 Johnny Rodriguez told the website that he and three others told the police that there was a passed out man lying in the street. They saw him having a seizure, lying down on the ground twitching and shaking.

Mr Rodriguez said the two officers called for backup and started to get too close to the man for the dog's comfort.

 'I told one of the cops, "Hey, that dog is growling, be careful," but it was too late. Angered and confused by the encroaching strangers, the dog first went for a bystander, nipping at a woman's leg.