Burbank K-9 killed after standoff
Police say the suspect killed the dog and was fatally shot
A Burbank police K-9 named Spike was shot and killed during a traffic-stop–related incident that escalated into a hours-long standoff and ended when the suspected shooter was fatally shot by officers, authorities said.
Officers stopped a vehicle on Buena Vista Street near the northbound I-5 on-ramp in the evening. A passenger fled on foot up the on-ramp and was believed to be armed. Backup, including a police helicopter and a K-9 unit, joined the search. The K-9 located the suspect, who fired multiple rounds and fatally wounded the dog before fleeing into a nearby residential area. Spike was transported to the Burbank Animal Shelter for emergency treatment but did not survive.
The search evolved into a joint operation involving Burbank and Glendale police, additional K-9 teams, crisis negotiators and the Burbank SWAT unit. Officers contained the area and attempted to communicate with the suspect, urging him to surrender. Law enforcement also deployed less-lethal methods, and at one point used fire hoses to flood a wash where the suspect was believed to be hiding in an effort to flush him out.
After several hours, the suspect, still reported to be armed, began shooting at officers and struck parked police vehicles. Officers returned fire and fatally struck the suspect; he was pronounced dead at the scene and a handgun was recovered. No officers or members of the public were reported injured. The suspect’s identity has not been released while the investigation continues.
Spike was later identified by the department as an “intelligent and devoted partner” who had recently celebrated a birthday. The department said his loss is akin to losing a fellow officer and announced plans for a public memorial, with details to be determined. Community members gathered at the police department to mourn and left tributes at an impromptu memorial.
Burbank police said they will continue their investigation into the shooting, including circumstances of the traffic stop, the suspect’s movements, and the series of events that led to the K-9’s death and the subsequent fatal confrontation with officers. The department emphasized that efforts had been made to de-escalate and to secure a peaceful surrender before the suspect opened fire.
