Three cops grazed in friendly fire

(Melrose-WABC, July 23, 2006) (WABC) -- Three NYPD officers were accidentally shot early Sunday morning when responding to a dispute between a landlord and tenant. One officer was attacked by a pit bull during the altercation. The friendly fire was aimed at the dog, but it ended up striking the officers as well. The dog's family is insisting their pet was only trying to protect the frightened children.

There are bullet holes on the fourth floor and blood stains on the stairs, and a dead dog were the fallout.

"The dog is very smart. He knew if something was coming," said Amanda Moront, the dog's owner.

The grieving owners of "Red," a 13-year-old pit bull, are lashing out at the police for killing a member of their family.

"The one's that are supposed to be helping you are making your life worse," said Natalie Leon, who lives with Moront.

Around midnight Sunday morning, authorities were called to the 400 block of Concord Avenue in the Bronx to settle a dispute between the super and a tenant on the sixth floor. We're told the tenant tried to flee by running into an apartment on the fourth floor. As he ran in, residents say, Red ran out towards the police. Authorities report the dog tried to attack an officer and that's why they fired on the pit bull.

During the shooting, three officers were grazed by friendly fire. A fourth officer was bit by the dog. Red's family is furious that they are paying the price for a problem that did not even involve them.

"It hurts. If I could have anything back it would be my dog. It hurts so much. That's my dog. That's like my brother," said Amanda.

The family wants to know who is going to compensate them for the damages to their apartment door and the lost of their beloved pet. We're told the four officers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

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