A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department K-9 is recovering and “resting comfortably” Thursday after being shot in Compton on Wednesday.
Officers say it happened around 6:30 p.m., while they were investigating an assault involving a deadly weapon suspect armed with a handgun in the 100 block of E. Spruce Street.
At one point, the suspect emerged from hiding and shot the K9 named Kjeld, a Special Enforcement Bureau search dog.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Kjeld was rushed to a local animal hospital after the shooting, where he was treated for his injury and released. Officers say he was wearing a bulletproof vest, which absorbed the impact of the shot.
“K9-Kjeld’s heroic actions were crucial in saving the lives of our deputies and even the suspect who shot him, demonstrating extraordinary courage and dedication,” LASD said in a statement.
On social media, the sheriff’s department said Thursday morning that “K-9 Kjeld is resting comfortably this morning after being shot last night during a LASD SEB SWAT dog operation,”
The suspect was arrested after the shooting.
Officers say they did not return fire during the incident.
