Suspect Shot After Pointing Gun at Police K-9
(UnitedVoice.com) – Police K9s are exactly that: police. Law enforcement officers take it very seriously when someone attacks their animals. Recently, one man’s decision to attack a K9 cost him his life.
On Tuesday, September 27, Arizona released the body cam footage of a fatal police shooting that left Francisco Galarza, 49, dead. The shooting happened on August 25 at a Circle K in Tuscon. The SWAT team was conducting a surveillance operation for felony arrest warrants for bank robbery and home invasion. Officers ordered Galarza to get down on the ground, but he ran instead.
Officer Barrie Pedersen released his K-9, Kiro, to track Galarza and take him to the ground. As he ran, the suspect took a black handgun from a bag into his possession and pointed the weapon at Pedersen’s canine partner.
Pedersen and officer Ernest Ortiz then opened fire.
#Bodycam footage captured a fatal #shooting as a @Tucson_Police #SWAT unit was conducting surveillance on a felony suspect who drew and pointed a gun at a #K9 and #officers as he fled. #police #OfficerMagazine https://t.co/qWCJ2FdRP7
— Officer.com (@OfficerCom) September 28, 2022
Tuscon police provided first aid, but Galarza died on the scene. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is carrying out the shooting investigation. The Tuscon Office of Professional Standards is examining the actions of the police. When the probes are over, prosecutors will decide whether or not to move forward.
Do you support the police officers’ decision to fire?
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