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Died 1/25/19
BCSO K9 killed; chase suspect shot several times following multi-county pursuit
A chase that started in Karnes County ended with a 38-year-old man in critical condition and a BCSO K9 dog shot and killed in West Bexar County. Karnes County Sheriff Dwayne Villanueva said the chase started off as a routine traffic stop with Karnes City police. The man then led officers in a pursuit throughout Karnes County for about 30 minutes before moving on to Bexar County, Villanueva said. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said three of his deputies and two Texas Department of Public Safety troopers then pursued the suspect, who is known to have several outstanding warrants, including one for DWI. Salazar said the man fired several shots at the officers who were chasing him. The chase ended in the area of Loop 1604 and Highway 151 with the man getting out of his truck and leaving his truck in reverse. The truck hit a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office patrol car. Salazar said the man then fired one shot before walking down Loop 1604 slowly. Salazar said as the man walked down the highway, he was firing several shots wildly at the officers. The man also pointed the gun at himself, the helicopter pursuing him and passersby, Salazar said. Deputies then deployed K9 Chucky, a 5-year-old Belgian Malinois, to try to subdue the man. Chucky was able to bite the man before the man fired several shots at the dog, killing it, Salazar said. “Chucky went out doing what he was brought here to do … to save lives,” Salazar said. Deputies and troopers then shot at the man several times, and he received gunshot wounds to his lower extremities, Salazar said. Salazar said the man was conscious when he was being taken to the ambulance. He was taken to University Hospital in critical condition. Once he’s released from the hospital, the man will face several charges, including, Salazar said, attempted capital murder, deadly conduct and evading arrest.Salazar said he heard several reports about the man going live on Facebook during the pursuit. The Texas Rangers will be investigating the case further. Several roads will be closed in the area, Salazar said, until investigators wrap up, which could last hours. Salazar said the deputy who handles the K9 was coming to terms about how he was going to tell his family that Chucky wasn’t going to come home. He said the Sheriff’s Office will be there for emotional support during this difficult time. The sheriff said there will be a funeral for Chucky.
