A K9 officer and suspect were shot and killed Tuesday during an incident in Newberry County.
Newberry County Sheriff’s Office deputies and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division officers traveled Tuesday to execute a fugitive arrest warrant near Gravel Road in Prosperity, the sheriff’s office said. in a social media post.
The suspect was allegedly found hiding in a relative’s home, the sheriff’s office said. A law enforcement dog confronted the suspect inside the home. The suspect was armed with a gun and fired at the officers, striking the dog, according to the sheriff’s office. Officers returned fire at the suspect, “eliminating the threat,” the sheriff’s office said.
The suspect was taken to an area trauma center, while the K9 officer was taken to an emergency veterinary clinic. Updates on the condition of the suspect and dog were not available as of early Tuesday afternoon.
The suspect was not named in the sheriff’s office release. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department was asked to assist in the investigation.
