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

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 →10 Tips for Felony/High-Risk Stops
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped Highlights Power Behind Amped FIVE Software
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
Police K-9 Killed, Suspect Dies in Shootout with Cops
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →From the Show Floor: InVeris
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →From the Show Floor: Polaris Government & Defense
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →
2026 Ford Pro™ Police & Special Service Vehicles Guide is Available for Download
Ford Pro™ meets the needs of law-enforcement agencies
Read More →
Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car
Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.
Read More →
Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year
The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.
Read More →
