Lawyers for the retired New York City police lieutenant who fatally shot a homeless man's beloved dog in Yorktown said the shooting was justified but that their client regrets having to kill the animal.
Peter Tilem and Robert Schechter did not answer specific questions but on Thursday, Aug. 12, issued their first public comments about James Molloy since his arrest the previous week.
"What is true is that James Molloy defended himself against an attack from an aggressive dog in a public space," the lawyers said in a statement. "James regrets that his actions in self-defense resulted in the death of a beloved animal. Anyone who loves an animal feels that loss and sadness."
On the evening of Aug. 5, Molloy called police to Route 118 near a supermarket parking lot after shooting Luke, a husky-shepherd mix. He claimed his dog had been attacked by Luke.
Luke and his owner, Matt Steele, were well-known in the community and the dog's killing led to an outpouring of support for Steele and a memorial near where Luke was killed.
Dozens attended a rally outside Yorktown Justice Court Tuesday as Molloy made a brief court appearance. They held signs, some reading "Justice 4 Luke", and expressing outrage at Molloy. They spoke of a lovable dog and an ex-cop who should have known non-lethal ways to diffuse the situation.
The lawyers thanked people who have expressed support for Molloy and said they understood the vitriol he has faced at the rally and on the internet.
"The concern this community has shown says something good about the people who live here," they said.
But they urged people to keep an open mind and expressed confidence that they would eventually understand "why James had to use force in self-defense."
Molloy, 61, retired from the NYPD in 2015 and has worked fundraising for Ronald McDonald House New York and volunteering with the Good Dog Foundation, which provides animal-assisted therapy.
He is charged with aggravated animal cruelty and first-degree reckless endangerment, both felonies, and could face up to seven years in prison. He is free without bail and is due back in town court Oct. 13.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Lawyers for ex-NYPD cop say fatal shooting of dog in Yorktown justified