2 in custody may be connected to dog shooting in La Mirada

LA MIRADA — Two persons of interest were in custody Thursday, possibly connected to the deadly shooting of a dog in La Mirada.

The ages, genders and names of the persons were not disclosed, but they were arrested on charges unrelated to the act of animal cruelty, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. It was unclear when and where the two people were arrested, but sheriff’s officials said they were looking into the possibility that they were connected to the dog’s death.

RELATED STORY: Pair shoots and kills dog in La Mirada, then drives away

A man and woman were being sought by authorities after surveillance video showed the man get out of an SUV, place a dog on the ground and shoot the animal twice, killing it, then drive away.

The shooting occurred at 16450 Phoebe Ave. about 12:45 p.m. Sunday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Norwalk Station, which provides law enforcement services for La Mirada.

A witness told deputies the man got out of the passenger side of a white Jeep Grand Cherokee and placed something on the ground near the gutter, then fired two shots, according to the sheriff’s department.

The suspect got back into the Jeep and both suspects drove away southbound on Phoebe Avenue, then turned left on Firestone Boulevard and out of view, the LASD said.

The witness, identified by NBC4 as Alex Csonka, then found a dog dead from gunshot wounds lying on a dog bed in the gutter, the department said.

“I can’t believe someone would actually do that and not give it away to a shelter or put it down,” Csonka told the station. “And also, if they’re willing to kill the dog … What were they willing to do to us?”

Anyone with information was asked to call Detective Mark Christiansen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 562-466-5419.

The animal-advocacy organization PETA has offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the suspects.