Police said a man who fled on foot from a traffic stop Saturday evening killed a Burbank Police Department (California) K-9. When the K-9 located the man, the dog was shot and killed by the suspect, who later died after exchanging gunfire with officers.

The police K-9 was transported to a local emergency veterinarian, but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Suspect in Hiding

With the assistance of an air support unit, police officers were able to see the suspect hiding in terrain adjacent to the northbound Interstate-5 freeway near the Buena Vista Street on-ramp. The terrain was thick, uneven, and overgrown. The suspect was seen still armed with a handgun within proximity of a residential neighborhood.

Additional resources were necessary, so the incident transitioned into a joint agency operation between the Burbank and Glendale Police Departments. This included additional police canine units, crisis negotiators, and the Burbank Police Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).

The Burbank Police Department said multiple efforts were made to communicate and negotiate with the suspect, encouraging him to surrender peacefully. Officers established a containment and deployed less lethal systems in an attempt to induce him to surrender.

Exchange of Gunfire

During these attempts, the suspect began shooting at police officers, striking police vehicles parked near the scene. Officers returned fire, hitting the suspect. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The handgun was recovered.

This investigation is ongoing and is expected to continue well into daylight hours when investigators can examine evidence.