An XL bully is on the loose in Sheffield after police shot at it – leading to three people being arrested.
Officers were called to an address in the Hillfoot area of the city on Friday night after reports of gunfire and a vehicle fleeing from the scene, South Yorkshire Police said.
They entered the property in Daniel Hill Street after receiving a call at 10.04pm.
Inside, they discovered the dog and it became aggressive, causing armed officers to fire a shot towards it and the animal to flee, the force said. It is not known if the dog was injured.
Police were then called to reports of a crash between a motorbike, silver Volkswagen Golf, and several parked vehicles in the Stannington area of the city just after 3am.
There was also evidence of gunshots being fired there – with detectives now treating the incidents as linked.
Police arrested a 37-year-old man at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, a 39-year-old woman on suspicion of possession of a firearm, and a 36-year-old man, who was riding the motorbike, on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.
All three are being held in custody, South Yorkshire Police said.
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Chief Superintendent for Sheffield Jamie Henderson said in a statement: “I would like to assure you that we are doing all we can to locate the dog or find those who may have housed it to evade police contact.
“We appreciate people in our communities being vigilant, and I ask that you get in touch immediately if you see the dog.
“I urge you not to approach the dog, as we believe it has the ability to show aggression and cause harm.”
Owning an XL bully without a valid exemption certificate has been illegal in England and Wales since new legislation came into force on 1 February 2024.
