Veteran who killed pit bull, owner of pit bull speak out about dog shot at Nassau animal clinic

James Strickland, the Army veteran who shot and killed a pit bull, shared his story with Action News Jax.

The owner of the pit bull Strickland killed, Moustapha Ba, spoke to us as well.

The men share love of their dogs and the pain of Wednesday morning.

“There wasn’t anything I had to do in many, many, years harder than take that dog’s life,” said Strickland.

Strickland said he regrets being in that position, but doesn't regret his decision to fatally shoot the pit bull.

He said doing so may have saved his dog’s life.

Ba is asking what could have been done differently.

“He’s part of my family so I’m mourning him right now,” said Ba.

Strickland said he was walking his service dog, a Weimaraner named Betty Boop, in the parking lot of the clinic when Ba's pit bull Dozier, charged them.

A witness named in the police report obtained by Action News Jax claims he saw Dozier "moving aggressively toward Strickland and his dog” and heard Strickland tell the owner to get the dog back or he would shoot it.

The witness said Ba held on to Dozier but only for a moment.

“He was down on the ground, struggling with the dog so hard that his shoes came off,” said Strickland.

The report states Strickland pulled out his .38 revolver while the dogs were separated.

It states he gave a second warning that he would shoot if Dozier got away again.

"When he pulled the weapon, that’s when I panicked and let the dog go," said Ba.

The witness said Dozier attacked again, prompting Strickland to fire.

“The dog didn’t really respond to that, attacked me and my dog again, and I shot him the second time it killed him,” said Strickland.

Ba said Dozier tried to run away before the second shot.

"When he first shot and Dozier got off and started to run and he shot him again," said Ba.

Martinique Lemke knows both dogs.

She runs a local dog bakery in Fernandina Beach.

“They’re both really great dogs,” said Lemke.

Lemke said Dozier did not seem to be the type of dog that would attack.

“Dozier got along with all dogs in the neighborhood. He got along with small dogs, big dogs, all dogs that came into my shop,” said Lemke.

Tonight, she's asking if there was another way the dogs could have been separated.

“It’s very sad that a dog had to die because of the situation," said Lemke. "I wish things could have been different. There’s other ways to try to get a dog off your dog."

The police report obtained by Action News Jax cites Florida Statute 767.03 before stating Strickland was not at fault.

It states that the lead detective spoke to the state attorney's office, which agreed with the decision not to arrest Strickland.

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