TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Police Department (TPD) is investigating an aggravated assault that happened between two women during an attempted dog adoption on Saturday around noon near the 1900 block of Meadowbrook Avenue.
Police said that as the transaction went on, a fight broke out and one of the women pulled out a gun. Police later seized that gun.
Officers took reports from the scene and spoke with witnesses, but say due to conflicting stories no arrests were made.
ABC Action News Anchor Nadeen Yanes spoke with Dominique Amerosa who runs Tampa Bay's Rags to Riches Animal Rescue where the incident occurred.
Amerosa said they were meeting with a potential owner for one of their disabled dogs named Bluey, but that meeting didn't go well.
According to Amerosa, the applicant allegedly became increasingly upset and wouldn't give the dog back. That's when it all escalated.
Amerosa said that her mom tried to take the dog back and the argument became physical. She stepped in and thought it was over, but she said it wasn't.
"I hear her say something, and she cocks the gun on camera, and she comes towards me, and I say, are you gonna shoot? And then it stops, because I start calling, trying to call 911, that's when she got me in a crouching position and put the gun on the back of my head," Amerosa said.
TPD confirmed they are now investigating the incident as an aggravated assault.
Amerosa said that Rags to Riches has changed the way they will do adoption meet and greets moving forward.
The investigation is ongoing and police are working with the state's attorney's office "to determine the most appropriate charges."
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