A teenager on the run from Georgia police has been shot dead by cops after he killed a K-9 officer called Waro.
Stephon Ford, 17, died in a shootout with officers hours after the Jonesboro Police Department were called to investigate ‘suspicious activity’ taking place at a hotel.
They found Ford and two other men, as well as marijuana and weapons. The other two men were arrested, but Ford fled and remained on the run for eight hours.
Ford ran into a wooded area, and Clayton Police were then called to assist with the search. They sent in K-9 officer Waro to track down the teen.
Once located, Ford allegedly refused to comply with officers’ commands and began firing in their direction, striking Waro in the back in the process.
The two-year-old dog was rushed to an animal hospital, where he died of his injuries. No other officers were injured.
Cops claim Ford declined several times to show officers his hands before one fired at him, killing him.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, ‘Ford had a handgun in his hand at the time he was shot.
WATCH: Pilot dies after his plane crashed during a gender reveal stunt in front of cheering guests
‘When the weapon was inspected, it appeared it had malfunctioned while being fired,’ authorities said of the teen’s gun.
The GBI is leading the investigation into the shooting.
The force will continue its independent investigation into the shooting, and once it is complete, the results will be handed over to the Clayton County District Attorney’s Office for review.
It was the 66th officer-involved shooting that the GBI has been asked to investigate this year.
In a press conference, Clayton Assistant Police Chief Bruce Parks told reporters: ‘The overall situation is tragic. We hate it.
‘We never want anything like this to happen. We try to use all our training and experience to bring it to an easy resolution, but this is not easy on us. It’s not easy on the suspect’s family.’
Just last month, police had announced that a protective bullet and stab-proof vest had been ordered for Waro as the result of a charitable donation from Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.
The K9 officers, however, never got the chance to don the protective gear.
