Dog fatally shot by passerby who fired into Northern California home, cops say

Bandit the dog’s family looked forward to celebrating his upcoming birthday during the Christmas holidays.

But someone walking past their home fired a shot inside, killing their dog, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, the Truckee Police Department said in a Wednesday, Dec. 17, news release.

“He was kind of the heart of my mom and dad’s household. And was kind of like their staple,” Kade Krautstrunk told KCRA. “It’s the hardest thing any of us has ever had to deal with.”

The incident took place on Deerfield Drive, police said. The same person was believed to have been seen in the area a week earlier on Tuesday, Dec. 2, police said.

On Dec. 9, the person was seen carrying a box believed to contain a firearm, police said.

He’s described as a man ages 18 to 20, about 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds, with short black hair and a mustache, police said. A security camera photo posted by police shows him wearing sweatpants, a sweat jacket and a hood.

“There’s no resting until this guy is found,” Krautstrunk told KCRA. “I’m begging, you know, whoever can help find this guy.”

Police ask anyone with information to contact 530-317-1112 or crimetips@townoftruckee.gov.