A photograph of Parrot, who was shot and killed in Adams Morgan this afternoon.

We recently received an email from a spokesperson for the owner of the dog who was shot and killed during today’s Adams Morgan Day festival. According to the spokesperson, the animal’s owner — known simply as Aaron — is currently too “rightfully distraught” to speak directly with the media.

Here is the full statement by the spokesperson, including a description of what happened this afternoon:

Parrot is [a] two-year-old dog for whom we have cared for almost a month. He has never bitten another dog and is regularly walked along 17th street during the busiest times of day without incident. He’s extremely friendly.

Today, there was an unexpected scuffle between Parrot and a poodle. Aaron, subdued Parrot, who was wearing both a leash and a harness. To do so, he placed his hands in Parrot’s mouth and held it open, which he has done when Parrot gets overexcited when romping in the apartment. As it had in the past, this calmed Parrot down.

At this point, the policeman knocked Aaron off of Parrot. The policeman put his knee in the middle of Parrot’s back while pulling Parrot’s forelegs behind him, as one would do with an armed criminal. Without waiting to determine whether this technique would calm Parrot, the policeman grabbed Parrot, lifted him off the ground, and brought him to the top of the concrete staircase. He threw Parrot over the banister, down twelve steps, and onto the concrete floor. Then, the policeman stood at the top of the stairs, drew his weapon, and executed Parrot. Aaron cannot recall the number of shots fired.

This photograph, which was taken by DCist commenter Darcycat1 “maybe a minute” before the shooting, depicts the portion of the spokesperson’s story in which “the policeman put his knee in the middle of Parrot’s back.”

Obviously, we will have more on this story as it develops.

UPDATE: Here is an early reaction to the incident from Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier, excerpted from an email exchange with Ward 1 D.C. Council candidate Bryan Weaver by TBD/ABC 7:

I don’t know all of the facts at this point so it is very difficult for me to comment beyond the facts that I have been given. All I know is that there is one dog who was attacked by the pit bull and 3 people, including a K9 officer, that were bitten by the pit bull. The officer involved is assigned to AC Burke so I would ask that he provide you with additional information as it becomes available.

Clearly, I am a dog lover as well and never want to see an animal harmed. We will keep you posted.