Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect how many victims were present for the dognapping.
A West Hollywood man is devastated after his dog was stolen from him at gunpoint near his apartment building.
The dog’s owner, Justin Garcia, told KTLA 5’s Annie Rose Ramos that he was walking his English bulldog named Capone while he went to retrieve belongings from his car on Olive Drive around 11:45 p.m. Monday night.
That’s when three thieves pulled up, jumped out of a black four-door Jeep and pointed a gun at him.
According to Justin, the masked gunmen told him to “give [him] the dog or [he dies].”
While one thief took Capone to the back of the Jeep, another jumped into Justin’s car and ransacked it, throwing his belongings around. Justin says that all that was stolen was an old security badge, and that a wad of cash in the car was not taken.
The thieves eventually sped off, and while Justin tried to chase after them, they were able to get away.
Justin and his girlfriend have been searching fruitlessly for their pup, driving around the neighborhood in hopes that the thieves just dropped him off somewhere on the streets.
Capone, a tricolor English bulldog, is 1 year and 10 months old and weighs about 50 pounds.
According to his owners, he is the “sweetest, friendliest dog you will ever meet.”
“I’m deeply worried; he’s not only just a part of our family and our life, but he’s my emotional support animal,” Justin said. “He’s everything I need when, and I have a hard day and I come home, he’s there for me with unconditional love.”
Authorities are investigating, but they told Justin that all they can currently do is wait for detectives to get back to them.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s West Hollywood station by calling 310-855-8850.