A heart-wrenching incident involving the shooting of a pet has led to a lawsuit that raises questions about law enforcement conduct and animal rights. Marquita Dixon filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on January 13, 2025, against Cook County Sheriff Christopher Murray and Cook County itself. The case centers around an alleged violation of constitutional rights following the fatal shooting of Dixon's puppy by Sheriff Murray.
According to the court documents, Marquita Dixon claims that on October 26, 2023, her son was outside their home with two English bulldog puppies when Cook County Sheriff Christopher Murray, who was supervising a Sheriff's Work Alternative Program (S.W.A.P.) detail nearby, shot one of the puppies named Coco multiple times. The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. as S.W.A.P. participants were cleaning up trash in a vacant lot near Dixon's residence on Washington Boulevard in Chicago.
Dixon alleges that despite Coco posing no threat or showing aggression, Murray fired several shots at the small dog as it attempted to flee back towards its home. Tragically, Coco succumbed to injuries after being shot six times. This act is claimed to be an illegal seizure under the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.
The plaintiff argues that Murray's actions were objectively unreasonable and demonstrated willful indifference to her constitutional rights. As a result of this traumatic event, Dixon asserts she has suffered emotional distress along with pain and suffering due to the loss of her beloved pet.
In addition to seeking compensatory damages for her emotional anguish and other related losses, Dixon is also pursuing punitive damages against both defendants. Furthermore, she requests attorney’s fees and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.
Representing Marquita Dixon is attorney Jeffrey J. Neslund from the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Neslund located in Chicago. The case is identified as Case No.: 2025 CV 00355 and falls under Judge jurisdiction within the Northern District of Illinois.