A tragic police incident in Burbank left a beloved K-9 officer dead and the armed suspect killed following a freeway pursuit and late-night shootout. The confrontation began after a routine traffic stop and escalated into an hours-long manhunt near the northbound 5 Freeway.
K-9 “Spike” Killed After Locating Armed Suspect
According to police, officers initiated a traffic stop on Buena Vista Street near the northbound 5 Freeway on-ramp around 6:40 p.m. During the stop, one passenger fled on foot, running up the freeway ramp while armed.
The suspect reportedly jumped over a freeway embankment into a nearby residential neighborhood. During the search, the Burbank Police K-9 team assisted in tracking the suspect.
K-9 Spike successfully located the individual, but the suspect fired multiple shots, striking the dog before escaping again on foot. Spike was transported to an emergency animal hospital but did not survive his injuries.
Spike was remembered by the department as an intelligent, loyal, and dedicated police partner, and had recently celebrated a birthday.
Hours-Long Standoff Ends With Suspect Killed
The armed suspect hid in the residential area for several hours, prompting a large-scale response involving:
- Additional K-9 units
- Crisis negotiation teams
- SWAT officers
Just before midnight, the suspect opened fire at officers, striking several patrol vehicles. Officers returned fire, hitting and killing the suspect. A handgun was recovered at the scene.
The suspect’s identity has not yet been released.
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