A disturbing video of an NYPD officer shooting a charging pit bull in broad daylight in front of dozens of screaming witnesses has been released to Gothamist.

The footage shows how the police officers approached the dog's owner while he was lying unconscious on the street before the animal, named Star, snapped at a bystander's leg.

Star quickly reverses direction and lunges toward the police officer, who shoots it twice before the animal comes to a halt, twitching on the street in agony.