EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — An East El Paso family is searching for answers after they say their six-year-old dog was found shot and killed in the backyard of their home last week.
Fernando Magallanes told KTSM 9 News he came home during his lunch break on Tuesday and found his dog, Emma, lying on the ground with blood coming from her hip.
Photo of dog, Emma. Photo courtesy of Fernando Magallanes.
“As I got close, you could see the blood coming from the hip all the way to the floor… forming a small pool of blood,” Magallanes said. “That’s when I thought someone shot my dog.”
Magallanes said Emma had been part of the family since 2020 and described her as a joyful dog who loved belly rubs.
According to Magallanes, Emma was the only one out of the family’s dogs that was hit. He believes she may have been shot with a pellet gun.
The family said they called police and filed a report following the incident. Magallanes said there were no cameras in the backyard at the time of the shooting, leaving the family with few answers about what happened or who may be responsible.
Now, Magallanes said his biggest concern is safety.
“It is a safety concern because I have babies,” he said. “What if one of my babies was outside in the yard… or a bullet goes through my window?”
Magallanes said the shooting happened near the home’s entryway in a neighborhood near several schools and older residents, making the situation even more concerning for his family.
The family told KTSM they plan to add cameras to the home following the incident.
Police have not released additional information and the investigation remains ongoing.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.