Fang, a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office police dog, was shot and killed while pursuing an armed carjacking suspect Sunday on the city’s Westside.
His human partner, K-9 Officer Matt Herrera, a 10-year Sheriff’s Office veteran, wasn’t injured, according to our Florida Times-Union news partner.
The suspect, whose name wasn’t released, was captured by a second Sheriff’s Office K-9 officer and police dog shortly after the shooting near Interstate 10 and Commerce Center Parkway, said Officer Christian Hancock, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman.
The Sheriff’s Office paid tribute to Fang in a post on the agency’s Twitter page. Messages offering condolences and prayers from other law enforcement agencies as well as residents flooded in via social media.
“K-9 FANG played a vital roll keeping everyone safe at special events and football games,” the Sheriff’s Office posted. “He has captured some of the most dangerous criminals in #JAX. We will miss you, FANG. You are gone but will not be forgotten.”
Beside the photograph of Fang, the Sheriff’s Office wrote “End of Watch 09-30-2018.”
Police are investigating the case as a homicide and as a carjacking. Killing a police dog is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison, according to Florida law.
Hancock said the incident began about 2:30 a.m. when police responded to an armed carjacking at the 7-Eleven convenience store in the 11900 block of Lem Turner Road on the Northside. A gunman stole a red four-door sedan from the victim who wasn’t injured, he said.
Police tracked down the car via its OnStar system, which disabled the vehicle at I-10 and Commerce Center Parkway, roughly 18 miles away from the carjacking site. The suspect, an adult male, abandoned the car and ran into the woods nearby, Hancock said.
Fang was sent after the suspect and caught him following a short chase. The suspect then fired several shots, killing Fang, he said.
Police didn’t return fire. No officers were injured. The suspect was apprehended by the other Sheriff’s Office police dog and handler in the woods between I-10 and West Beaver Street, Hancock said.
Information wasn’t available whether the suspect was injured.
Hancock said about an hour passed between the time police received the carjacking call, located the stolen car and Fang was slain.
The Sheriff’s Office is working with the State Attorney’s Office regarding the charges in the case, he said.
This morning, We mourn the loss of our K9 brother from @JSOPIO. We pray for his partner and JSO family. He was shot and killed during a pursuit of an armed carjacker. The suspect was caught, but at a very heavy price. Thank you for your service, our four-legged hero. pic.twitter.com/dStVUIF8Kr
— FHPJacksonville (@FHPJacksonville) September 30, 2018
A longer version of this story is available on jacksonville.com.
