The suspect who shot a SC sheriff’s deputy in the head and killed a state agency canine died in a shootout with state SWAT officers and local deputies following an extended manhunt on Johns Island.
SC Deputy Shot in Head, K9 Killed, Suspect Killed by SWAT
The suspect who shot a SC sheriff’s deputy in the head and killed a state agency canine died in a shootout with state SWAT officers and local deputies following an extended manhunt on Johns Island.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) K9 Rico was killed by an attempted murder suspect who had been the subject of an extended manhunt. The gunman was then killed in a shootout with state officers and deputies.
Greenville County Sheriff’s Office
Thursday afternoon the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 38-year-old Ernest Burbage III was dead. He had been wanted for attempted murder in a shooting Wednesday afternoon and then later in the day, the sheriff’s office reports, he shot Master Deputy James Gilbreath in the head.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) reported the agency’s SWAT team responded to a home where the suspect was spotted Wednesday night, sent a robot inside, followed by SLED K9 Rico.
Gunshots were heard and Rico, a 3-year-old Belgian Malinois, was killed, reports NEWS 12. Burbage, armed with a rifle, exited the home through a window.
“Burbage then exited the residence where SLED SWAT and Dorchester County Sheriff’s deputies engaged him when he presented the firearm and he was shot and died at the scene,” SLED Chief Mark Keel in a Thursday press conference.
More Patrol

5.11 Debuts New Load-Bearing Gear at SHOT Show
5.11 launched a variety of new load-bearing gear, ranging from backpacks to chest packs, designed for training, travel, and everyday readiness, this week during SHOT Show 2026.
Read More →
Streamlight Launches the Rechargeable TLR-3X & Other Lights at SHOT Show
Streamlight launched the TLR-3X and TLR-3X USB, two new weapon lights, and an assortment of other new lights during SHOT Show 2026.
Read More →
EOTech & Fast Metal Introduce the EOTech Halen Ballistic Spectacle System
Built on the proven Halen platform, the new EOTech x Fast Metal Halen Ballistic Spectacle System is the only aluminum frame listed on the U.S. Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List.
Read More →
2 Florida Officers Shot After Shots-Fired Call
Two officers were shot in Gainesville, Florida, by a man who police say was leaving an area where he had killed a man inside a business. The suspect exited his vehicle in what the chief termed an “ambush-style” attack.
Read More →
Mistaken Identity: Ohio Police Department Harassed After ICE OIS
An Ohio police department has received harassing phone calls and social media messages because it has an officer with the same name as the ICE officer identified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, officer-involved shooting.
Read More →
Top 10 POLICE Videos of 2025
What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.
Read More →
Flock Safety and Coreforce Partner to Enhance Real-Time Awareness and Operational Efficiency for Law Enforcement
A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.
Read More →
Ballistic Armor Co. Secures Strategic Investment to Expand U.S. Production Capabilities
Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.
Read More →
Police & Fire Championships Expands Athlete Eligibility
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →Tips for Watching the Hands
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →