Lincoln police say an argument between three people turned violent -- and one person took his anger out on a dog.

Police say 26-year-old Jessica Goff, 29-year-old Meri Bakensto and 32-years-old Leonard Yankton live together in the 1400 block of south 10th Street, but Goff asked them to move out.

Police say then Goff and Bakensto got into an argument over a scratch on the floor. Police arrived and cited them both for assault.

The women left the apartment, but Yankton called police a few hours later, saying his roommate’s pit bull had attacked him and he used a machete to stop the dog, according Officer Katie Flood.

When police arrived, the dog still alive but had life-threatening injuries.

Police took the animal to an emergency vet clinic where the doctor said the wounds were not consistent with a dog attack.

"It appeared Leonard Yankton tried to chop the dog's head as it was lying down. Unfortunately the dog did not survive," Flood said.

Yankton was ticketed for animal cruelty.