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Dog shot by Texas cop was subject of 2 complaints Apr 19th 2012, 23:01 By Sevil Omer, msnbc.com An Australian cattle dog killed by a Texas police officer responding to a 911 call at a wrong address had been the subject of two previous complaints, local media reported Thursday. Follow @msnbc_us Cisco, a blue heeler owned by Michael Paxton, was shot Saturday by an Austin officer responding to a domestic disturbance call. An address given in a 911 call turned out to be wrong -- the people who allegedly had been fighting in the street nearby had left the scene. But Officer Thomas Griffin said that when he arrived at the address he shot the dog after it charged at him. Paxton, however, denied that Cisco lunged at Griffin. Officer shoots man's dog after 911 caller gives wrong address Officer responding to wrong address for domestic call shoots man's pet. KXAN's Shannon Wolfson reports. According to The Austin American-Statesman, Cisco had been the subject of two complaints made to animal control authorities, last month and in 2007. In 2007, a woman complained that the dog had nipped at her hand, but Paxton denied the charge. Last month, a man who was walking past Paxton’s house, said the dog lunged at him, but did not bite him. Paxton refused to believe the complaints. “I will go to my grave saying he was not a vicious dog,” Paxton told the Statesman. “There’s more to the issue than this.” More content from msnbc.com and NBC News: 'As lucky as you get': Cop stabbed in head survives Report: Bar hand questioned over missing Fort Bragg soldier 474-year-old painting stolen by Nazis given to heirs Three Secret Service agents out in sex scandal Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook Media files: getMobileVideo?videoId=47076692 Marine Corps opens combat school in Quantico, Va. to women Apr 19th 2012, 21:59 Hadi Mizban / AP file A female US soldier escorts Iraqi woman out of the danger zone, after a suicide car bomb exploded nearby in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2004. By Jeff Black, msnbc.com A Marine Corps school that trains infantry combat officers is now enrolling women, the Marine Corps Times reported, marking the first time female members of the front-line fighting force would be specifically groomed for direct combat roles. Follow @msnbc_us       The Corps is seeking out female volunteers to attend the Infantry Officers Course in Quantico, Va., Gen. Joseph Dunford, the Marine Corps' assistant commandant, told the paper. According to the Marine Corps Times: It’s a monumental — if controversial — move for the Marine Corps, which until now barred female Marines from the program and required instead that they attend other courses aimed at preparing them for assignments in support roles such as logistics, personnel administration and aircraft maintenance, among others. It was unclear, however, what the next steps would be after the women complete the infantry training. Marine officials were expected to finalize details on lifting restrictions on women in combat and make an announcement in coming days, the paper said. “Women are already in combat, except the ones that are not technically on the front lines fighting,” said Karen Kelly of the Women Marines Association, “when they’re in Afghanistan, in Iraq, women are right there with the expeditionary forces.” In February, the Pentagon announced that some restrictions on women serving in combat roles would be relaxed, acknowledging the fact that they are fighting, and dying, on the battlefield. But the Defense Department said it would still prohibit women from serving in the infantry, armor or special operations unit. At the same time, the Pentagon said it was developing “gender-neutral physical standards.” Critics, including former presidential candidate Rick Santorum, have raised concerns about women in combat. Santorum argued the men fighting alongside women would naturally try to be protective, hindering the mission. Others said commanders would have to worry about women who aren’t strong enough for a particular duty. According to the Washington Post, as of Thursday 139 women have died in the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, compared to 6,257 men. Australia will become the third country to allow women to serve in front-line combat roles, following New Zealand and Canada. More content from msnbc.com and NBC News: More Secret Service resignations expected to be announced Lack of leadership to blame for soldiers' bad behavior Drought forecast for Southwest: Getting worse Private plane with 'incapacitated' pilot plummets into Gulf  Video: Can longtime senator be too moderate for GOP? 474-year-old painting stolen by Nazis given to heirs Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook Media files: 120419-soldier-235p.photoblog400.jpg (image/jpeg) getMobileVideo?videoId=44683084 Woman pleads not guilty in Marine wife's slaying, held on $3 million bail Apr 19th 2012, 18:49 By NBCSanDiego.com and msnbc.com staff San Diego County Sheriff via AP Brittany Dawn Killgore, whose body was identified Wednesday. Updated at 6:15 p.m. EDT: SAN DIEGO -- A 25-year-old woman charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of a Camp Pendleton Marine's wife pleaded not guilty Thursday and was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $3 million bail. Jessica Lynn Lopez was arraigned Thursday at San Diego County’s Vista Superior Court on charges involving what prosecutors called “homicidal violence” against Brittany Dawn Killgore, the San Diego Union Tribune reported. Follow @msnbc_us Also Thursday afternoon, Killgore's father, Darryl Wrest, who lives in Pennsylvania, read an emotional statement at the San Diego County Sheriff's headquarters in Kearny Mesa, the North County Times reported. "I am here to speak for Brittany, as her voice was taken from her,” Wrest said. "Brittney was a victim, she did nothing wrong," Wrest said. "There have been stories and comments made from people who do not know my daughter and have their own agendas or opinions. These stories have absolutely no basis in fact. Please leave my daughter in peace, she does not deserve to be a victim of lies and innuendo any more than she deserved to be murdered.” Lopez was arrested Tuesday, hours before Killgore’s body was found in a remote area of neighboring Riverside County. Authorities found Lopez in a Loma Linda motel room with self-inflicted cuts. Prosecutors said Lopez had left a suicide note that led investigators to Killgore’s body. Earlier Thursday, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said at a news conference that Lopez could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted of murder. Dumanis refused to discuss facts or evidence in what she called the "ongoing case." She said another Marine, Louis Ray Perez, 45, was arraigned Wednesday on a separate stolen weapons charge and remains a person of interest in the Killgore killing. Additional charges are possible, she said. "This case has shaken many in San Diego County and the military community," she said. Dumanis said answers about the killing will come as the case makes its way through the criminal justice system. Killgore was reported missing Saturday. Her body was found in a rural part of neighboring Riverside County. Her husband, Cory Killgore, is based at Camp Pendleton but has been deployed to Afghanistan. San Diego officials announce that murder charges have been filed against Jessica Lynn Lopez, and that two others have been arrested in connection with the death of Brittany Killgore. Earlier story: Coroner says body of woman is that of Brittany Killgore, missing wife of Marine More content from msnbc.com and NBC News: More Secret Service resignations expected to be announced Drought forecast for Southwest: Getting worse Private plane with 'incapacitated' pilot plummets into Gulf  Video: Can longtime senator be too moderate for GOP? 474-year-old painting stolen by Nazis given to heirs Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook Media files: 120417-killgore-missing-820a.photoblog400.jpg (image/jpeg) getMobileVideo?videoId=47103747

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