/PRNewswire/ -- Shamieh Law has launched a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Gary "Stitch" Guillory, and a deputy who allegedly shot and killed the Granger family's dog in their own yard on August 1, 2025.

The lawsuit, submitted on May 8, 2026, to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, details how the deputy responded to a neighbor's traffic complaint at 637 Debra Lane. Finding no infraction, the deputy reportedly entered the Grangers' private driveway, encountering Tank, a five-year-old Rottweiler with no prior aggressive behavior, secured alone in the yard. The filing claims no valid reason existed to fire a weapon, yet the deputy did so, fatally wounding the dog. Christine Granger returned home to find her property encircled by sheriff's vehicles and learned of her pet's death. Four days afterward, the office delivered Tank's cremated remains to the family in a labeled box.

According to the complaint, body camera video captures the deputy staging a reenactment of the incident with another officer, while additional on-site cameras were intentionally deactivated. The Grangers' public records request for the footage was rejected by the sheriff's office, citing a statute that the plaintiffs' legal team argues does not pertain. Shamieh Law maintains this reflects a broader issue, asserting that under Sheriff Guillory, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office has fostered a culture of permitting excessive lethal force against pets and obstructing investigations.

"Tank was woven into the fabric of this family's daily routine - their source of comfort, guardian of their home, keeper of their cherished memories. In mere moments, he was gone forever. The deputy trespassed on private land without legal grounds and ended his life. The aftermath compounded the tragedy: cameras disabled, a mock reenactment, bureaucratic dodges in place of responsibility," stated Attorney Ramez Shamieh, Founder of Shamieh Law. "This case transcends the loss of a pet. It questions whether citizens can rely on truth and oversight from public servants. The Grangers merit justice, and we are committed to amplifying their voice."

The legal action charges breaches of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments via 42 U.S.C. § 1983, along with conversion, respondeat superior, inadequate training and oversight, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The family pursues compensatory and punitive damages, legal costs, and a jury trial.

About Shamieh Law

Shamieh Law specializes in civil rights and personal injury cases, advocating for people and families across Texas and Louisiana. Operating from offices in Dallas, Austin, Lake Charles, and Arkansas, the firm champions significant causes by challenging institutions, police departments, and businesses that inflict harm. Lead attorney for the Grangers is Max E. Guthrie from Shamieh Law's Lake Charles office.

SOURCE Shamieh Law