Six-year-old girl watches in horror as police 'shoot dead her dog Apollo in her front yard'



Family's one-year-old shepherd-mix got out of their yard on Friday but by the time police arrived, he was back on the family's property

An officer pulled out his gun and the dog showed its teeth - causing the cop to shoot in front of its shocked family

The animal was rushed to medical attention but could not be saved

The family is now rallying for answers and justice, saying that the killing was unnecessary



A six-year-old girl watched in horror as police gunned down her one-year-old dog as it stood in their front yard, her family has said.



The girl's mother, Nicole Echlin, said their shepherd-mix Apollo, whom they have had since he was a puppy, got out of their yard in Hometown near Chicago, Illinois on Friday afternoon.

After they chased him around the neighborhood, he returned to the yard and was standing on the lawn when police arrived and pulled out their guns, Echlin told the Chicago Tribune.



'He started showing his teeth - that's when the officer shot him,' Echlin, 27, said. 'I didn't know that was going to happen.'

Loss: Apollo the dog, left, was fatally shot in the head, right, by a police officer in front of his family on Friday



Echlin's daughter fell to the ground crying after the pet was shot in the head. Her mother grabbed her and took her inside.

'That's going to be in her head probably forever,' Echlin said.

Neighbor and witness Ayo Nicco Torres added on Facebook: ' The dog wasn't dead, he was kicking its legs like it was trying to run while he was laying on the lawn. Ten minutes later still laying there breathing. Sickest thing I've ever seen... In my opinion it just wasn't necessary.'

She added that the dog wasn't barking or moving before it was shot down, while family members said the dog had no history of aggression.



Distraught: Owner Nicole Elchin said her daughter fell to the ground crying after seeing police shoot their dog

Gentle: The family said Apollo, who passed away on Saturday morning, had never been aggressive



The pet was rushed to the Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge but he died on Saturday morning, said Echlin's sister Kristy Scialabba.

Scialabba has now set up a Facebook page, 'Justice for Apollo'.



'I'm heartbroken,' Scialabba said. 'That was my best friend.'

Hometown police said the incident was under investigation and that they did not want to comment until more information was available.



Scene: The animal was shot in the family's front yard in Hometown, Illinois on Friday afternoon

'In reference to the tragic incident that occurred on Beck, it would be too early for me to make any statement without reviewing all the facts,' Hometown Police Chief Charles Forsyth said on Facebook.



'I can assure the people of Hometown that a full investigation of the incident will be conducted.'

But the family said the police had not yet given them any insight into why their pet was killed.