The fatal police shooting of a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois named Max has sparked widespread outrage in Santa Ana, with the dog’s owner, Luce Vega, and community advocates demanding transparency, accountability, and policy reform from the Santa Ana Police Department.
According to Vega, officers shot Max four times and struck him with a baton after the dog exited the family’s property during a police response to a domestic dispute at her home on Orange Avenue on July 30. Vega said Max had never shown signs of aggression and believes officers overreacted out of fear.
“Max was very playful,” Vega said. “He loved kids — he would always be around them. He was hyper, happy, jumpy, and curious. He was never known to bite anyone or to be aggressive with anybody.”
Santa Ana police maintain that the officer involved “was attacked by the dog” and fired in self-defense. However, Vega disputes that claim, stating the officers misjudged Max’s behavior.
“I feel like they probably felt threatened,” Vega said. “Maybe they got scared because my dog is a big dog. But they didn’t give us a chance to put the dog inside — they just started shooting at him.”
On the night of the incident, officers arrived and exited their vehicle as they responded to a reported domestic disturbance. A driveway gate at the home was left open, and security video reportedly shows Max running out toward the officers. Within seconds, shots were fired.
“He just ran out, and they shot him,” Vega said. “They didn’t wait or warn us. They didn’t let us intervene.”
Santa Ana police have not released body camera footage. The department initially said the dog did not sustain life-threatening injuries and was expected to survive. However, the family says that was false — and that Max was clearly critically wounded.
After the first round of gunfire, Vega said Max fled across the street and hid under a car. He remained there until he heard her voice.
“After he heard my voice, he came out and started running toward the corner,” she recalled. “That’s when they shot him again.”
Santa Ana police have since told KTLA there was no second round of gunfire, but witnesses and Vega insist otherwise. At least one witness reportedly observed Max being struck with batons while he lay injured.
“He was hurt and he was bleeding out — that’s for sure,” Vega said. “They carried him with sticks like he wasn’t even alive.”
Vega said officers threatened to use a taser on her when she tried to approach Max. Bystanders were also allegedly told to stop recording video and return to their homes.
Police transported Max from the scene and took him to Irvine Veterinary Hospital. However, Vega said she wasn’t told where her dog had been taken and spent hours calling emergency clinics before locating him at approximately 12:06 a.m., more than three hours after the initial shooting.
When she arrived, she was told Max had been brought in with gunshot wounds, and that the officer claimed the dog was in stable condition.
“That was a lie,” Vega said. “If he did survive, he was going to have his front leg amputated. They told us later he would likely lose both legs.”
Vega and her partner, Mario, were not permitted to see Max until the following afternoon — nearly 14 hours later. By then, veterinary staff said the extent of his injuries made euthanasia the most humane option. Devastated, they made the decision to put him down.
“He was only three years old,” Vega said. “He had a whole life ahead of him. That’s my dog — he’s part of the family. Why did they have to do that?”
Vega now wants a formal investigation and for Santa Ana PD to reevaluate its use-of-force protocols involving animals.
“I want them to take accountability for what they’ve done,” she said. “They didn’t have to shoot that many times. If there is justice for a dog who is a cop, why can’t there be justice for our dogs?”
Julie Capacete, a family friend helping Vega collect witness statements, called the department’s response disproportionate.
“I understand why they reacted the first time,” Capacete said. “But as soon as the dog started fleeing — you know he was trying to get away from the people trying to harm him.”
She added, “The second shot wasn’t necessary. The dog was already trying to flee in the opposite direction. He was just trying to get back to his owner.”
“What they did was excessive force — something that was so unnecessary,” Capacete said. “It was completely avoidable. We just want justice for him.”
The family has contacted PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), which is now reviewing the case. The hashtag #JusticeForMax has been circulating online as supporters press for independent oversight and departmental reform.
Santa Ana police have not issued a follow-up statement and have not responded to additional requests for comment.
This article includes reporting by Sara Welch.