Officers attempting to serve a warrant Tuesday morning in the Blacksgate neighborhood in the Prosperity area were forced into a confrontation with a suspect when he pulled a gun and shot a K-9 officer.
The suspect was hiding in the home of a family member when officers tried to serve the warrant. Coba, the four-year-old Belgian Malinois K-9 officer, entered the home with other SLED agents and the suspect pulled a gun and fired at the dog. Officers returned fire and hit the suspect.
The suspect was taken to an area hospital and the family member was arrested for telling officers the suspect was not in the house.
Coba worked for SLED’s SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) and K=9 tracking teams. Coba lived with Special Agent Richard ‘Cole’ Powell and his family.
No report on the suspect’s condition has been issued. Several other deputies involved in the incident were also treated for minor cuts and scratches.
An outside agency is investigating, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is providing help.
