Military

Homeless Veteran’s Service Dog Dies After Violent Arrest

October 28, 2021Hannah Ray Lambert
Joshua Rohrer veteran service dog Sunshine killed

Joshua Rohrer holds Sunshine in an undated photo. Photo courtesy of Joshua Rohrer/Facebook.

Supporters of a homeless Army veteran plan to rally outside a North Carolina police department Friday, Oct. 29, after they say officers wrongfully arrested Joshua Graham Rohrer and tased his service dog in the process. Rohrer’s VA-prescribed service dog, a Belgian Malinois named Sunshine, later died after escaping from a friend’s house before Rohrer made bail.


Rohrer, who reportedly served in the Army from 2002 to 2008, was standing in a median near an intersection in Gastonia, North Carolina, a town about 20 miles west of Charlotte, on the evening of Oct. 13. Rohrer has been treated for post-traumatic stress, according to WBTV, which included being matched with Sunshine. As Rohrer and the dog stood in a median near a busy shopping center, a woman called 911 to complain that Rohrer was using Sunshine as a prop to garner sympathy — and cash — from drivers. 


“They’re using this dog to make people feel sorry for them, to give them money,” the caller said, according to 911 audio obtained by WBTV. “They have this dog laying in the middle of the, he’s on the median. That poor little dog is laying on the median right there at the red light. He could get ran over.”


Joshua Rohrer veteran service dog Sunshine killed
Army veteran Joshua Rohrer’s service dog, Sunshine, stands on a railing at the beach in an undated photo. The service dog was hit and killed by a car around Oct. 16, 2021. Photo courtesy of Joshua Rohrer/Facebook.

Rohrer told local news outlets he wasn’t begging for food or money. But when officers from the Gastonia Police Department showed up, one officer said she would be giving him a ticket for panhandling, Rohrer said. Panhandling is illegal both at night and within 20 feet of a “financial institution” — which includes ATMs — in North Carolina.


A witness to the arrest told WCNC the confrontation quickly turned violent. After asking Rohrer for identification, police “slammed him up against the car” and handcuffed him, Justyn Huffman told the news station.


Witnesses said one officer tased Sunshine after the dog bit an officer’s boot during the altercation. Police later confirmed that an officer tased the dog.


“We’re out here screaming, ‘Don’t shoot the dog! Don’t shoot the dog!’ Huffman told WCNC. Huffman said Rohrer began yelling “My dog! My dog!” as police moved him to the back of a patrol car and “slammed” him to the ground.


Sunshine ran off with one of the stun gun prongs dangling from her body, witnesses said. Eventually, Rohrer’s VA advocate Dave Dowell brought Sunshine home with him, but the dog slipped her leash and ran away the next morning.


Joshua Rohrer veteran
Joshua Rohrer, right, served in the Army from 2002 to 2008. Photo courtesy of Joshua Rohrer/Facebook.

Rohrer was booked on charges including resisting an officer, begging for money, and soliciting from a highway. Rohrer began searching for Sunshine after family members bailed him out of jail the next day, but supporters announced Oct. 16 that the service dog had been hit and killed by a car.


The Gastonia Police Department told Coffee or Die Magazine that Rohrer is still facing charges related to the incident. The department is also reviewing the circumstances surrounding Rohrer’s arrest to determine whether the actions of the officers involved followed department policies and procedures.


Rohrer’s supporters plan to protest at 5:30 p.m. Friday outside the police department in hopes of pressuring authorities to drop the charges. Supporter Megan Grayson told Coffee or Die that most of those involved support law enforcement but “believe these particular officers were not a great representation.”


Grayson urged everyone attending the protest to remain peaceful.


Read Next: The 4-Legged Fighter Pilot: Why a Coyote Named Jeep Was Buried With Full Military Honors



Hannah Ray Lambert
Hannah Ray Lambert

Hannah Ray Lambert is a former staff writer for Coffee or Die who previously covered everything from murder trials to high school trap shooting teams. She spent several months getting tear gassed during the 2020-2021 civil unrest in Portland, Oregon. When she’s not working, Hannah enjoys hiking, reading, and talking about authors and books on her podcast Between Lewis and Lovecraft.

More from Coffee or Die Magazine
BRCC Limited Edition Josh Raulerson Blackbeard Skull Shirt
From Naval Service to Creative Canvas: BRCC Veteran Artist Josh Raulerson

Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.

Medal of Honor is held up.
Biden Will Award Medal of Honor to Army Helicopter Pilot Who Rescued Soldiers in Vietnam Firefight

Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.

dear jack mandaville
Dear Jack: Which Historic Battle Would You Want To Witness?

Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.

west point time capsule
West Point Time Capsule Yields Centuries-Old Coins

A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.

Ouija Board aircraft carrier
Low-Tech ‘Ouija Boards’ Have Helped Aircraft Carriers Operate for Decades

Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.

Army vs. Navy mascot
The Navy Goat vs. the Army Mule: Mascot Origin Stories

For nearly as long as the Army-Navy football rivalry, the academies’ hoofed mascots have stared each other down from the sidelines. Here are their stories.

ukraine long-range weapon
Zelenskyy Says Ukraine Has Developed a Long-Range Weapon, a Day After Strike Deep Inside Russia

Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel the weapon was produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries but gave no other details.

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
Contact Us
Contact Us
© 2023 Coffee or Die Magazine. All Rights Reserved