West Covina officer-involved shooting: Murder suspect killed, K-9 injured

WEST COVINA, Calif. (KABC) -- West Covina police say a murder suspect was killed by officers after he shot and injured a police K-9 late Sunday night.

Officers responded to a shooting just after 11 p.m. and found a body in front of a church on the 1400 block of West Badillo Street.

A witness was able to provide information to police about the shooting suspect, who was last seen running westbound. Officers set up a perimeter and called in a sheriff's department helicopter to search for the suspect. Authorities then spotted a man matching the suspect's description on a rooftop on the 1500 block East Elgenia Street.

"The suspect jumped down off the rooftop. When he got into the driveway, we sent one of our K-9s, deployed toward the suspect," said Cpl. Rudy Lopez with the West Covina Police Department. "When the dog got up to the suspect...the suspect opened fire with a handgun in the direction of both the K-9 and the officers. The K-9 was struck. The officers returned fire, striking the suspect."

Officials said Reiko, the police K-9, underwent surgery at a hospital in Los Angeles and was expected to survive.

"Reiko has been with us for a year, excellent K-9. The handler is quite upset," said Lopez.

Both shootings remain under investigation. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.