PHOENIX — A suspect is dead and a police K9 is considered a hero after an officer-involved shooting in Phoenix early Thursday morning, the Phoenix Police Department said.
Phoenix police said the incident began when officers responded to a report of shots fired shortly after 3:30 a.m. Upon arrival to the area in question, officers found a man who was dead.
During the search for the homicide suspect, police officers were directed to a nearby apartment complex, azfamily.com reported.
According to police, K9 Dennis was deployed and the first to enter the suspect’s apartment. As a result, he was shot by the gunman. At that point, officers retreated from the unit. However, the suspect, a man in his 40s, came out armed with a weapon.
Consequently, five officers perceived a continuing threat and shot the armed suspect when he exited the apartment after shooting K9 Dennis, Sgt. Ann Justus said.
Critical Incident Briefing: The Phoenix Police Department is investigating an officer-involved shooting overnight north…
Posted by Phoenix Police Department on Thursday, December 3, 2020
K9 Dennis, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, was transported to an area animal hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, according to Justus. He is being credited with saving the lives of the officers who first responded to the suspect’s apartment.
It wasn’t immediately confirmed the suspect killed by police had murdered the homicide victim, Justus said. “That’s certainly one of the possibilities that investigators are looking into,” KOLD reported.
