Funeral Planned For K-9 Hudson Killed Protecting Police In Batavia

BATAVIA, IL — A full honor police funeral is planned for Hudson, the Kane County Sheriff's Office K-9 who was killed May 24.

The service will occur Thursday at Harter Middle School, 1601 Esker Drive in Sugar Grove. It will begin at 11 a.m. with a public walkthrough, followed at 11:30 a.m. by a police K-9 walkthrough and a funeral service right after, officials announced.

Officials said Hudson's death was a "heroic line of duty" death as he was defending deputies and the public from an armed carjacker, according to a news release.

Just before 3:45 p.m. May 24, the sheriff's office warned drivers to avoid the area near Walmart on Randall Road in Batavia, citing a large police presence. A vehicle pursuit, which started as a carjacking in Aurora, ensued from South Elgin to Batavia and ended in what authorities called an "exchange of gunfire" that left a suspect and the K-9 dead, Patch reported.

RELATED: Suspect Dead, K-9 Killed In 'Exchange Of Gunfire': Kane Sheriff

Asked how the carjacking in Aurora began, a police spokesperson referred Patch to the Kane County Sheriff's Office, where officials said they did not have information on the incident.

Officials said after the car fled an attempted traffic stop in South Elgin, a deputy initiated a pursuit that led to Batavia, where police said the suspect got out of his vehicle and presented a handgun.

At the same time, police said the Kane County Sheriff's K-9 Hudson was deployed, biting the male suspect and engaging in a struggle with him.

Officials said deputies "returned fire" at the suspect, who was pronounced dead at Northwestern Delnor Hospital.

The suspect was identified by the Kane County Coroner’s Office Monday as James Moriarty, a 38-year-old Aurora resident. His preliminary cause of death was cited as multiple gunshot wounds.

K-9 Hudson was killed in what an official described as "a big loss for us," saying Hudson's handler is "absolutely devastated," Patch reported.

Hudson, a Dutch shepherd, was born Aug. 21, 2018, and sworn into police duty Oct. 16, 2020. During his career, he helped track more than 100 criminal offenders and missing persons, officials said.

Besides the Kane County Sheriff's Office, Hudson also served the Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He helped detect and seize more than 100 kilograms of illicit narcotics and assisted in seizing more than $5 million determined to be proceeds from illicit activities, according to the sheriff's office.

"Perhaps most notably, we are unable to determine how many [times] Hudson's mere presence prevented violent encounters between criminals and members of law enforcement," said officials at the sheriff's office. "He served with honor, pride, and unwavering bravery and he will surely be missed."

Community members interested in making a donation on Hudson's behalf can do so through the sheriff's office-created Venmo account, @KCSO-Canine. The Venmo account is the only official fundraiser set up for Hudson. Officials warned locals not to donate to a GoFundMe campaign they labeled a scam.

"Our office would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and gratitude for our team throughout this difficult time," officials said in a Facebook post. "Please continue to keep everyone involved in this tragedy in your thoughts and prayers."

For those who cannot attend Hudson's funeral in person, the event will be livestreamed on the Kane County Sheriff's Office's Facebook page.