Burbank police dog dead after being shot near 5 Freeway, suspect killed in shootout with police
A police K-9 was shot and killed by a suspect, who was later killed in a shootout with officers, following a traffic stop in Burbank.
The deadly incident unfolded Sunday after officers conducted a traffic stop on Buena Vista Street near the northbound 5 Freeway on-ramp around 6:40 p.m., according to the Burbank Police Department.
Police added an armed passenger in that car took off running up the freeway on-ramp.
The suspect "jumped over the freeway embankment wall into a nearby residential neighborhood... during the search, the canine located the suspect. The suspect fired multiple rounds, striking the canine, before fleeing on foot," police added in a statement.
The K-9 was rushed to an emergency veterinarian for treatment but he did not survive.
Police later identified the dog as "Spike," who was described as an "intelligent and devoted partner." He had recently celebrated a birthday.
The suspect hid in the neighborhood after allegedly shooting the dog, triggering a large response from additional K-9 units, crisis negotiators and SWAT.
At one point, police say the suspect began shooting at officers and hit patrol vehicles that were parked nearby.
Officers returned fire, hitting and killing the suspect who has not been identified. A handgun was recovered at the scene.
