K-9 Injured, Suspect Killed In Phoenix Police Shooting

PHOENIX — A Phoenix police K-9 was shot and injured in a fatal police shooting that left a man suspected of murder dead, the Phoenix police said.

Dennis, a 6-year-old Belgian Malinois, was injured while entering the apartment of a suspected killer, the Phoenix Police Department said in a news release.

Dennis and five officers responded to calls of a shooting heard near 9200 N. 19th Avenue at 3:40 a.m Thursday. When officers arrived, a man was found dead in the common area of an apartment complex. An initial investigation at the scene led officers to a suspect at the complex.

Dennis was the first to enter the man's apartment and was shot. The man later stepped out of the apartment and began shooting at the officers before he was shot and killed, police said. The five officers involved have been with the department ranging from two to four years, according to Phoenix police spokesperson Sgt. Ann Justus.

Dennis received serious injuries, though no other officers were hurt in the confrontation. He has been with the police department for over four years. Dennis is expected to make a full recovery and return to duty.

“He saved the lives of all of our officers out here today,” Justus told reporters, according to the Associated Press.

The victim officers first found has been identified as 30 year-old Demeatris Roberson. The suspect who shot Dennis has been identified as 42 year-old Maurice Jackson.

The two men apparently knew each other and had an ongoing dispute, Justus said. Jackson is considered a person of interest in Roberson's death.

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.