A K9 with the Burbank Police Department was shot and killed on the 5 Freeway by a suspect who is now also dead, according to police. 

The Burbank Police Department originally stated that, around 6:40 p.m. Saturday, units were conducting a traffic stop on the 5 Freeway near the Buena Vista Street off-ramp when a passenger inside the vehicle abruptly fled, jumping over the freeway embankment wall and making his way into a residential neighborhood. 

While some units remained with the vehicle and driver, other officers began the search for the person who fled the area.  

He was eventually found thanks to assistance from both a K9 unit and a police airship; more specifically, the K9 unit located him, Burbank police said, and during the ordeal, the four-legged officer was shot. 

The wounded canine was taken to a hospital where he was listed as receiving treatment; however, the Burbank Police Department sadly confirmed Sunday morning that the K9 who was shot did not make it. 

“During the incident, the police canine was struck by gunfire from a suspect armed with a handgun. The police canine was transported to a local emergency veterinarian, but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased,” BPD said.

After the shooting, the suspect disappeared again and was found hiding in the same area, described as “thick, uneven and overgrown” terrain, by officers in the air. He still appeared to be armed with a handgun and was within proximity to a neighborhood, police said.  

Despite “multiple” attempts at communicating with the suspect, Burbank authorities, who at this point were joined by members of the Glendale Police Department and the local SWAT Team, were not able to get him to surrender peacefully; thus, they established a containment line and began deploying less lethal rounds. 

According to police, the suspect began shooting at police officers, striking units parked in the area, around 11:20 p.m. Officers returned fire and struck the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene. 

His identity was not released. A handgun was recovered from the area.

The K9 who was shot was named Spike, according to the Burbank Police Department. K9 Spike had been on duty for just under two years.

“With profound sadness, we share the news of the passing of our beloved K9 Spike, who courageously gave his life in the line of duty after being struck by gunfire from an armed suspect,” the department said on social media. “K9 Spike was an intelligent and devoted partner, known for his gentle nature off duty and his tenacity and dedication while serving.”

The department asked the public to keep Spike’s handler, his family and all officers involved in their thoughts and prayers as everyone tries to navigate the “tremendous loss.”

Traffic along the 5 Freeway during the ordeal was heavily affected, with major travel delays in the area overnight. Per Burbank police, the ongoing investigation into the incident is expected to continue “well into daylight hours” so detectives can find and examine further evidence.

On Sunday morning, a small memorial with flowers was seen outside the police station, a sign that community members, along with local police, are mourning the loss of one of SoCal’s finest.

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