Missouri City Reaches $500,000 Settlement After Officer Fatally Shoots Blind and Deaf Shih Tzu

STURGEON, Mo. — The City of Sturgeon, Missouri, and former police officer Myron Woodson have agreed to a $500,000 settlement following the fatal shooting of Teddy, a blind and deaf Shih Tzu whose death during a May 2024 police encounter sparked widespread outrage.

The settlement resolves a federal lawsuit filed by Teddy’s owner, Nicholas Hunter, who accused Woodson of using unjustified deadly force and alleged the city failed to adequately train its officers to handle animal-control calls.

What Happened to Teddy?

On May 19, 2024, Teddy escaped from his fenced yard and wandered into a neighbor’s property in Sturgeon, a small community north of Columbia.

The neighbor contacted authorities for assistance after being unable to locate Teddy’s owner. She later said the dog had not behaved aggressively toward her.

Woodson responded to the call and attempted to capture Teddy with a catch pole. Police body-camera footage showed the officer pursuing and attempting to restrain the dog for several minutes before eventually drawing his firearm and shooting Teddy twice.

Teddy weighed approximately 13 pounds and was both blind and deaf.

The shooting quickly attracted national attention after the body-camera footage became public. Critics questioned why lethal force was used against a small dog that had not been reported as aggressive.

Sturgeon initially defended Woodson’s actions, saying the officer believed Teddy might have been injured, sick or potentially rabid. The city’s response did little to quiet the controversy.

Teddy’s Owner Filed a Federal Lawsuit

Hunter subsequently filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Woodson and the City of Sturgeon.

The lawsuit alleged Teddy’s killing constituted an unreasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment and accused the city of failing to adequately train and supervise Woodson.

Questions about training became a major part of the case because Sturgeon police officers were responsible for animal-control duties.

According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund, which helped support the litigation, Woodson had not received adequate training on using the catch pole provided by the department. The lawsuit also alleged he had not been informed about an arrangement through which Boone County could provide certain animal-control assistance.

City and Former Officer Agree to $500,000 Settlement

The lawsuit was ultimately resolved without going to trial.

Under the settlement, Sturgeon and Woodson agreed to pay a combined $500,000. According to ABC 17, $282,500 was allocated to Hunter and $217,500 to the law firm representing him. The majority of the settlement was covered through the Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund, with the city responsible for its insurance deductible.

The settlement resolves the civil case and does not represent a criminal conviction or jury finding against Woodson.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund described the agreement as one of the larger settlements involving the police shooting of a family dog.

Shooting Brought Major Changes to Sturgeon

Teddy’s death had consequences extending well beyond the lawsuit.

Then-Sturgeon Mayor Kevin Abrahamson resigned amid mounting criticism following the shooting. Woodson was placed on administrative leave and later left the Sturgeon Police Department.

Sturgeon eventually disbanded its municipal police department, shifting law-enforcement responsibilities to the Boone County Sheriff’s Office and animal-control services to Boone County.

Current Sturgeon Mayor Terry Truesdell later acknowledged problems with the city’s handling of the controversy, telling ABC 17 that the city “didn’t handle it well.”

For Hunter, the settlement closes the legal battle but cannot replace Teddy.

The case has also become part of a broader conversation about police training for encounters with pets, particularly animals whose disabilities or fear may affect how they respond to officers.

What began as a routine call about a loose dog ultimately resulted in national scrutiny, changes to Sturgeon’s government and police services, and a $500,000 settlement nearly two years after Teddy was killed.