Mother of man fatally shot by police says officers killed her dog

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The mother of Ronald Johnson, who was shot and killed by Chicago police in October 2014, says police shot and killed her dog.

Dorothy Holmes says her 3-year-old bull mastiff, China, apparently got loose and ran out of the yard at 122nd and Lowe on Sunday.

Police confirm they responded to a vicious animal call and say the dog was killed because it charged at officers.

"It hurts 'cause the kids saw the dog out here dying and they started crying also. So it's like another tragic to our family because that dog was a part of our family," Holmes said.

A police officer said the dog bit his pant leg.