Advertisement Neighbors question security guard's gunshot at apartments Security guard says he was justified in opening fire Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A veteran private security guard said he was justified when he opened fire in a Marysville apartment complex, but some neighbors said he went too far.“In this particular incident, I had nowhere to go. I had nowhere to go,” said Jason Littlepage.Watch report here: Security guard says dog attack forced him to fire weaponLittlepage owns S.O.I protective services and has worked in security for decades.He said he has a contract with the Hunter's Landing Apartments in Marysville and was responding to a noise complaint on Sunday.While responding to the complaint, Littlepage said the dog aggressively approached him.“My perception is, and the reality of the situation is, I am being attacked,” he said.So, Littlepage said he fired his weapon. The bullet missed the dog.The dog's owners denied the animal was attacking Littlepage and said a fragment of the bullet hit their toddler.The claim that the toddler was hit by a bullet fragment hasn't been verified by investigators.“I just kept saying, 'Why did you shoot my dog?'” said the child’s father, Lee Miskell.“He didn't have to take out his gun and shoot," said the child’s mother, Darlene Nissen.But Littlepage said the decision to fire his weapon was his only option.Marysville police said a preliminary report suggests Littlepage's actions were justified.“Much like regular citizens, guards can react when they are in danger. An aggressive animal or a human, somebody puts you in danger of your life or serious bodily injury, then you have the right to protect yourself," said Lt. Aaron Easton. "From everything that we found talking to witnesses and evidence on scene, it appears as though the dog came at the security officer aggressively, and he reacted in a manner that was appropriate."Littlepage said he would have taken a bite from a dog before ever putting a child in danger, and said in this case the child was never in harms way.“I protect children as if they are my own. They are children,” he said.Littlepage told KCRA 3 this was his first time in the course of duty that he has ever discharged a firearm.The Marysville Police Department investigation, which found no wrong doing, will be turned over to the district attorney's office.